Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has denied reports circulating on social media that he has defected from the Labour Party (LP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The governor’s reaction followed claims by some online platforms suggesting that Otti had abandoned the Labour Party — the platform that brought him to power — to join the ruling party.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Abia State Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, described the defection story as completely false and the work of political mischief-makers trying to distract the government.
Kanu said those behind the rumours are uncomfortable with the governor’s steady performance and growing popularity across the political landscape.
He said, “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.”
According to him, Otti’s focus has not changed: it remains on rebuilding Abia, promoting transparency, and ensuring that every part of the state feels the impact of good governance.
The commissioner further reminded the public that during the October edition of “Governor Alex Otti Speaks to Abians,” the governor had clearly stated that his interest was not in political defections or power play, but in genuine service and the transformation of Abia State.
However, the statement reaffirmed Otti’s loyalty to the Labour Party, describing his administration as one guided by the principles of accountability, fiscal discipline, infrastructure renewal, youth empowerment, and inclusive development.
Kanu urged Abians to ignore the rumour, insisting that it was another attempt to divert attention from the progress the state is witnessing under Otti’s leadership.
He added, “We wish to assure Abians that Governor Alex Otti remains resolute in his mission to continue to build a new Abia where truth, justice, and equity prevail under the banner of the Labour Party.”