December 31, (THEWILL) — Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has reaffirmed his commitment to the Labour Party, stating unequivocally that he will not follow the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, in defecting to another political platform.
Otti made the declaration during his monthly media chat in Umuahia, the state capital, emphasising his resolve to help rebuild the party that propelled him into political office.
THEWILL reports that Obi, the former Anambra Governor, formally exited the Labour Party to the new coalition opposition, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) on Wednesday.
Speaking in Enugu, Obi described his defection as part of a broader plan to transform and rescue the nation.
“We are ending this year with the hope that in 2026 we will begin a rescue journey,” Obi declared, emphasising his commitment to ensuring a free and fair electoral process in the upcoming polls.
However, Governor Otti said Obi had communicated his defection to him but insisted he would continue the struggle to rescue the Labour Party.
“If you remember, I joined the Labour Party before Peter Obi, so I did not join the party with him. He has communicated to me that he is leaving the Labour Party. I gave him my blessings. But I will remain in the Labour Party, and I told him that I would continue the struggle to rescue the Labour Party. 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 said.
The governor also addressed calls by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, urging him to join the All Progressives Congress (APC). Otti said he preferred to stay focused on governance and avoid distractions.
“Ordinarily, I would not respond to matters like that. However, those of you who listened to my Christmas message will recall that I called on our people who have enough to extend support to the less privileged, particularly persons with disabilities. Seeing that he heeded the call and distributed money to vulnerable people, I thank him for doing that,” Otti said.
He added with a note of principle and focus, “I have also taken a principled decision not to be provoked or condescending in my response. I am sure you are aware of a man called Winston Churchill. He was a two-time Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and lived from 1874 to 1965. He was a profound thinker and writer who said, ‘You will never get to your destination if you stop to throw stones at every dog that barks.’ We will remain focused on our job.”
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