- Obi personally informed Gov Otti of plans to leave Labour Party
- Abia governor says he will remain in Labour Party
- Otti rules out joining APC or any other party for now
- Obi yet to officially announce next political platform
Abia State Governor Alex Otti has confirmed that Peter Obi has told him about his decision to leave the Labour Party, but made it clear that he has no plans to follow the former presidential candidate out of the party.
Governor Otti made this known on Tuesday during his monthly media briefing in Umuahia, where he addressed growing speculation about possible defections ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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According to him, Peter Obi personally reached out to inform him of his intention to exit the Labour Party, a move Otti said he fully respects.
“He has communicated to me that he is leaving the Labour Party, and I gave him my blessings,” Otti said.
However, the governor firmly ruled out leaving the party that brought him to power, stressing that his political journey within the Labour Party did not begin with Obi.
“I joined the Labour Party before Peter Obi. I did not come into the party because of him,” he explained.
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Otti added that he remains committed to rebuilding and repositioning the Labour Party, noting that discussions about alternative political options would only arise if those efforts fail.
“That is the party that brought me to power. I will continue the struggle to rescue the Labour Party,” he said.
Reacting to calls by Benjamin Kalu, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, urging him to join the All Progressives Congress (APC), Otti said he would not be distracted by political comments.
Quoting former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, the Abia governor said focus remains his priority.
“You will never reach your destination if you stop to throw stones at every dog that barks,” Otti stated.
While Obi is widely linked to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ahead of 2027, he has yet to formally announce his next political move.
