Otti and Obi.webp
The Digest:

Alex Otti, Governor of Abia State, has confirmed that Peter Obi informed him of his decision to leave the Labour Party but stated he will remain in the LP to "rescue" it, declining to defect alongside the former presidential candidate.

Key Points:
  • Otti revealed the conversation during his monthly media chat in Umuahia on Tuesday.
  • He stated, "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."
  • The governor emphasized he joined the LP before Obi and feels a duty to the party that brought him to power.
  • He said he would only consider other options if efforts to reposition the LP ultimately fail.
  • Otti dismissed calls from Deputy House Speaker Benjamin Kalu to join the APC, quoting Winston Churchill about not being distracted by "every dog that barks."
  • He thanked Kalu for distributing aid to the vulnerable but refused to dignify his political comments with a response.
  • Obi has since formally defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition.
Otti’s decision to stay highlights a potential fracture within the Labour Party's leadership, as one of its most prominent elected officials chooses to rebuild the party. At the same time, its national figurehead departs for a broader coalition.

Sources: The Cable, Vanguard