Governor Alex Otti Denies Rumors of Planned Defection to APC
The Abia State Government has officially debunked widespread rumors suggesting that Governor Alex Otti, OFR, is planning to defect from the Labour Party to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a statement released by Ferdinand Ekeoma, Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, the government described the reports as "false, baseless, and unfounded," urging the public to disregard them entirely.
According to the press release, Governor Otti did not hold any political meeting with Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State concerning a defection. Instead, after attending the National Economic Council meeting on Thursday, April 24, Governor Otti, along with some colleagues, joined Governor Uzodinma at a private celebration for the birthday of Uzodinma’s twin daughters — an event the government insists was purely social and non-political.
The statement emphasized that while Governor Otti’s rising popularity and remarkable performance as Governor of Abia State naturally attract attention and political speculation, any major political decision he makes would always prioritize the interests of Abians and involve wide consultations with the people and his political allies.
Governor Otti also reaffirmed his commitment to focusing on governance rather than getting distracted by premature political maneuvering for the 2027 elections. He stressed that it would be unfair to the electorate to allow politics to overshadow the developmental agenda of his administration less than two years into his term.
The Abia State Government concluded by categorically stating that Governor Otti remains a proud member of the Labour Party and has no current plans to defect to the APC or any other political party.
