The Abia State Government has firmly refuted widespread reports suggesting that Governor Alex Otti has defected from the Labour Party (LP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing the claims as baseless and politically motivated.
The rumours, which began circulating over the past week, were triggered by a photograph showing Governor Otti in the company of Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, shortly before the latter officially joined the APC. Speculation mounted that Otti’s visit was a strategic move intended to pave the way for his own defection to the ruling national party.
However, in a statement issued on Monday, the Abia State Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, dismissed the reports as a deliberate attempt by political propagandists to mislead the public and create unnecessary tension.
“Governor Alex Otti remains a committed and proud member of the Labour Party, the platform under which the good people of Abia overwhelmingly elected him to serve,” Kanu said.
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He reiterated that the Governor has not wavered in his commitment to the Labour Party, nor has he expressed any intention of leaving the party. According to Kanu, Governor Otti’s primary focus remains on fulfilling his campaign promises and delivering good governance to the people of Abia State.
“His focus remains unshaken — to rebuild Abia, restore accountability, and deliver the dividends of democracy to every citizen of the State,” the Commissioner added.
Kanu advised members of the public to disregard the defection reports in their entirety, labelling them as “cheap propaganda” designed to distract from the state government’s ongoing reforms and development agenda.
Governor Otti, a first-term governor elected under the Labour Party banner in 2023, has consistently positioned himself as a reform-minded leader prioritising infrastructure development, fiscal transparency, and improved service delivery in Abia.
Observers note that the governor’s visible performance since taking office has unsettled political opponents, many of whom have resorted to misinformation campaigns to undermine his administration.
The state government’s swift dismissal of the defection rumour is seen as part of its broader effort to maintain focus and stability, amid a national political climate marked by frequent defections and realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.