“I Will Remain in the Labour Party” — Alex Otti on Peter Obi’s Exit

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has confirmed he will not leave the Labour Party, even as the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, prepares to exit.

Speaking at his monthly media briefing in Umuahia on Tuesday, Otti said he joined the Labour Party before Obi and plans to stay to help rebuild and reposition it. He noted that Obi personally informed him of his decision to leave, and he had no objection.

“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,” Otti said.

Otti emphasized that the Labour Party brought him to power and that his loyalty remains with it for now. “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 added.

The governor also dismissed calls by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu to join the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying he preferred to focus on governance rather than political distractions. He acknowledged Kalu’s recent support for vulnerable residents, noting it aligned with his own appeals for assistance during the Christmas period.

Otti concluded with a focus on his administration’s priorities, quoting Winston Churchill: “You will never get to your destination if you stop to throw stones at every dog that barks.”