By Eshiorameh Sebastian, Abuja
Abia State Governor Alex Otti is under pressure from within his own camp to sever ties with the Labour Party, a SPEAR NEWS investigation has found, despite his public pledges of allegiance amidst the party’s escalating internal crisis.
While Governor Otti has consistently dismissed rumours of defection, most recently stating, โIโm not defecting to another political partyโ, the Labour Party is engulfed in a leadership war that threatens its legal status and ability to field candidates in the future.
The governor’s recent clarification and posture were a direct response to speculation from the Abia chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) about a potential defection, and followed a separate assertion by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, that Abia would be APC 2027.
While the governor’s clear remarks were intended to close down rumours of an imminent move to the ruling party, a high-level source within the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) confided to SPEAR NEWS that a defection to APGA is now being actively considered as a contingency plan for Mr. Otti.
The source, who expressed a high degree of certainty, stated that, “the move would leave APGA with two governors in the South-East, while the All Progressives Congress (APC) would retain three”.
The ongoing crisis stems from a deep seated schism within the Labour Party, which has fractured into two irreconcilable factions. This internal division has prompted the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to seek alliances outside the party, formally aligning with a coalition under the banner of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
SPEAR NEWS can report that Mr. Obi has publicly endorsed an ADC candidate for an upcoming council election in the Federal Capital Territory. Demonstrating his commitment, the former presidential candidate pledged to actively campaign for the ADC, vowing to “storm the streets” in support.
Sources within the party have confirmed to SPEAR NEWS that Peter Obi was among the key figures in the ADC who influenced the outcome of the party’s primary election for the FCT council polls.
Given this significant realignment at the national level, political analysts now suggest that Governor Alex Otti may be compelled to consider a similar exit from the Labour Party to secure his local political future.
In the context of Peter Obi’s effective exit and the prevailing uncertainty over the party’s legitimate leadership, compounded by the Abure faction’s official recognition on the INEC website, a strategic move to a party like APGA would be a logical contingency for any astute politician.
With the Labour Party engulfed in a factional war that threatens its very existence, remaining with the party represents a significant political liability.
On one side is the faction led by Julius Abure, which derives its legitimacy from a Nasarawa State High Court order and has recently been received by the acting Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mrs May Agbamuche-Mbu. Its communications, delivered by National Publicity Secretary Obiora Ifoh, are combative, labelling opponents as “power mongering renegades” and accusing them of “dancing naked in public.”
The other faction, led by Senator Nenadi Usman with the backing of Governor Alex Otti and Peter Obi, grounds its claim in what it calls a “landmark” Supreme Court judgment of 4th April 2025. Its rhetoric is even more incendiary. Through aide Ken Eluma Asogwa, it has openly accused INEC’s acting chairman of “criminal collusion” and a “judicial heist,” demanding her arrest and mobilising supporters for what it terms a “peaceful occupation” of the electoral commission’s headquarters.
This situation presents an impossible scenario for INEC, which is caught between contradictory court orders, and a catastrophic one for a sitting governor like Alex Otti. For Governor Otti, the Labour Party’s implosion represents a direct and immediate threat to his political survival.
The risks of remaining with the party are multifaceted. First, with two factions claiming authority and multiple courts producing conflicting rulings, there is a clear danger that his nomination could be successfully challenged in court, invalidating his candidacy before a single ballot is cast.
Second, even if he were to win an election, his victory would stand on shaky legal foundations, leaving him vulnerable to being removed from office by a court ruling.
Furthermore, the Labour Party brand has become synonymous with public acrimony and legal chaos, creating what amounts to a toxic association for any candidate. The party’s resources are being drained by endless legal battles. This forces Otti’s team to focus on saving the party rather than promoting his record in Abia State.
It is within this context of extreme peril that a potential move to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) must be understood. While Governor Otti has dismissed joining the ruling APC, APGA presents a compelling alternative. The party already holds the governorship in Anambra State, and by moving to APGA, Otti would create a unified opposition bloc in the South-East, positioning the party as the dominant regional counterweight to the APC.
Governor Alex Otti’s public defiance appears to be a necessary political grandstanding, as admitting vulnerability would invite further attacks from the opposition in the state, especially from Benjamin Kalu’s camp. However, the evidence suggests the Labour Party is no longer a viable vehicle for a major electoral contest.
The governor therefore faces a critical choice: remain loyal to a disintegrating party and gamble his political future, or make a pragmatic move to a stable platform that guarantees his place on the ballot. The greatest threat to his tenure may not be his opponents, but the crumbling foundation of his own party.
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