Otti Vows to Stay in LP Despite Obi’s Exit
Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has affirmed that he will not leave the Labour Party, even after the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, announced his departure.
Speaking during his monthly media parley in Umuahia, Otti said Obi had informed him of his decision to quit the party, but he assured the former Anambra State Governor that he would remain to help salvage the party.
Otti, who is the national leader of the Labour Party, said he would only consider leaving if efforts to rescue the party fail, expressing confidence that the LP could still be revitalised ahead of the 2027 elections.
“I joined Labour Party before Peter Obi; I did not join the party with him. He has communicated to me that he was leaving, and I gave him my blessings, but I remain in LP. I will continue the struggle to rescue LP—the party that brought me to power. If we fight and cannot salvage it, then we can discuss other options. For now, I am not defecting with him,” he said.
On calls by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, urging him to join the All Progressives Congress to secure re-election in 2027, Otti said he had resolved not to be distracted by external opinions.
“Ordinarily, I would not respond to comments on matters concerning me. But since you asked, I thank him for responding to my 2025 Christmas message by distributing rice and money to the less privileged.
“That said, I have taken a principled decision not to dignify all his other comments. As Winston Churchill once said, ‘You will never get to your destination if you stop and throw stones at every dog that barks.’ We remain focused on our work,” Otti said.
The governor also highlighted the progress recorded under his administration and pledged that more transformations would be achieved in the remaining months of his tenure.
He reaffirmed his commitment to massive development in Abia, promising that every community would benefit from his administration’s efforts.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
