Abia State Governor Alex Otti has confirmed he will remain in the Labour Party despite the decision by former presidential candidate Peter Obi to leave the party. Speaking at his monthly media chat in Umuahia, the state capital, Otti said he had given Obi his blessings but would not follow him out of the party.
Alex Otti Labour Party stance and next steps
“If you remember, I joined the Labour Party before Peter Obi, so I did not join the party with him,” Otti told reporters. He added that Obi had communicated his intention to exit the party and that Otti had wished him well. “But I will remain in the Labour Party, and I told him that I would continue the struggle to rescue the Labour Party,” the governor said.
Otti framed his decision as a matter of political duty and continuity. He emphasised that the Labour Party was the platform that brought him to power in Abia State and that his priority was to help reposition and rebuild the organisation at state and grassroots level. “That is the party that brought me to power. If we fight and get to the end, and we are able to reposition the Labour Party, then we can discuss other options. Therefore, for now, I am not defecting to any party,” he explained.
The governor’s remarks come amid speculation that some leading figures aligned with Mr Obi might defect to other parties. Otti’s decision to remain suggests a focus on internal reform rather than immediate alignment with rival political formations. Observers say the move could help stabilise the party’s structure in Abia and encourage retention of local officeholders.
During the same media session, Otti responded to suggestions from the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, that he should join the All Progressives Congress. The governor said he did not wish to be distracted by such calls and preferred to remain above provocation.
He acknowledged Kalu’s charitable gesture, noting it answered a public appeal Otti had made in his Christmas message for wealthier citizens to support vulnerable groups. “Seeing that he heeded the call and distributed money to vulnerable people, I thank him for doing that,” Otti said. He added that he had taken a principled decision not to engage in petty exchanges, quoting Winston Churchill to stress the need to remain focused on governance and service delivery.
Political analysts suggest that Otti’s announcement may have several practical effects. It could consolidate the Labour Party’s presence in Abia, provide a base for internal reorganisation, and send a signal to other southern governors weighing their options. A sustained effort to rebuild the party locally could shape candidate selection and campaigning ahead of future elections.
For now, the governor’s public stance is one of measured commitment to the Labour Party’s revival, with a clear caveat that other options remain under consideration if the reconstruction effort does not yield the desired results. The coming months will show whether his pledge attracts new support and helps stabilise the party’s fortunes in the region.
Key Takeaways:
- Abia State Governor Alex Otti declares he will remain in the Labour Party despite Peter Obi’s departure.
- Otti says he joined the Labour Party before Obi and will work to reposition and rebuild the party.
- He thanked Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu for charitable gestures but declined to be provoked into a response.
- Otti framed his stance as a focused political strategy rather than an immediate move to another party.
