Alex Otti’s defection rumour denied as Abia governor reaffirms Labour Party loyalty, distances self from APC and opposition coalition plans for 2027
Alex Otti’s defection rumour has been dismissed by the Abia State Governor, who reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to the Labour Party.
Also read: Why other states should emulate Governor Otti’s transformational leadership
Speaking at a dinner in Umuahia on Tuesday to mark the start of the 2025 mid-year retreat for government appointees, Governor Otti denied any plans to join the All Progressives Congress or the emerging opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 elections.
The governor firmly addressed reports suggesting he was one of five governors planning to decamp.
“I’m still a member of the Labour Party and I’m not looking for where to decamp to,” Otti said.
He continued, “A lot of people have been asking me, are you a member of the coalition? My response is, have you seen my name? Have you seen me attending the coalition meeting?”
According to Otti, his focus remains on fulfilling his mandate to Abians.
“We are just busy doing the work that Abia people have given us. So, we are not attending any coalition meeting. I have not attended any one, and nobody has invited me.”
The governor acknowledged past internal party challenges, but noted that these were fully resolved at the Supreme Court.
“Yes, we had issues. If you don’t have issues, you are dead. You wake up and there is one problem or the other. You solve the problem. You don’t run away and pretend it’s solved,” he said.
On the issue of financial management, Governor Otti strongly refuted claims that his administration had borrowed funds.
“Some people have come out to say that we are borrowing; they are lying. Did I borrow from them?” he asked.
Otti referenced a recent report which ranked Abia as the top state in loan reduction, having cut its debt profile by 57.20% in just one year.
He clarified that although his administration had not borrowed yet, it would consider loans strictly for regenerative investments.
He said, “We will borrow when we need to borrow. We will borrow for regenerative investments. We will not borrow to eat. We will not borrow to consume. We will borrow for capital expenditure.”
Governor Otti also announced that providing clean, accessible water is the next priority for his administration.
Water projects in Aba and Umuahia are set to be flagged off in the coming weeks.
“We want to get to that level where you open your tap and have public water running,” he said.
To support development and track execution, a new Project Implementation Bureau has been launched.
It will be led by Onyinye Nwosu, a former General Electric staff member in Canada who returned to serve Abia.
The event also celebrated the first anniversary of the Abia Global Economic Advisory Council.
The 20-member team continues to shape the state’s long-term development goals.
Speaking at the dinner, Co-Chair of the Council, Prof. Arunma Oteh, said it was an honour to contribute to Abia’s progress.
“It is a pleasure to serve in the Economic Advisory Council,” she remarked.
The Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Kenneth Kalu, thanked the Council members for their ongoing commitment.
Present at the event were Ifueko Okauru, Chair of the M\&E Committee; Victor Onyenkpa, Chair of the Financing Committee; and members Ezinwa Okoroafor, Chidi Ajaegbu, and Olugbenda Adesida.
Governor Otti closed his remarks by encouraging continued collaboration. He reaffirmed that his administration would remain focused, transparent, and committed to development.
Also read: Southeast APC Defection Prediction Triggers Speculation Over Opposition Governors
The defection rumour has therefore been debunked, with the governor making it clear that he remains firmly within the Labour Party and has no plans to leave.
