The leadership of the Labour Party (LP) has refuted claims that Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, is planning to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja, LP’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Obiora Ifoh, described the rumor as “completely false.”
Ifoh emphasized that the Labour Party remains in constant communication with Governor Otti, who has assured party leaders that he has no intention of leaving the party. “It’s just a rumor, and we hope it remains that way. We are in regular contact with Dr. Alex Otti, and he has assured us that he is committed to staying with us ahead of 2027,” he said. “We believe he will continue to be with us as we work through the issues we are addressing.”
While acknowledging that political defections are a common occurrence in a democratic system, Ifoh reiterated that Otti has no plans to join the APC. He also pointed out that defections, including those of governors, have been subject to legal challenges and interpretation of the 1999 Constitution, particularly Section 84.
“At times, defections may happen, but they are not unprecedented. If several governors decide to defect, it will not be anything new as it has happened before,” Ifoh added.
He further attributed the rumors to the challenges faced by some opposition governors in managing their states, stressing that the Labour Party is performing well, with Otti firmly behind the party’s objectives. “Our party is doing well, and our governor is with us. By 2027, we expect to welcome more governors into our ranks,” Ifoh concluded.
NAN
