Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, has dismissed as entirely false and baseless reports claiming he held discussions with Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, regarding a potential defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Otti made the clarification in a statement issued on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma, describing the speculation as unfounded and lacking any credible substance, urging the public to disregard it.
The clarification followed claims that Otti had engaged in political talks with Uzodinma after the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting on Thursday, April 24.
The governor’s office explained that Otti and some of his colleagues merely attended the birthday celebration of Uzodinma’s twin daughters, an entirely social event with no political undertones.
The statement acknowledged that Governor Otti’s remarkable performance and rising profile in Abia State may have spurred admiration and speculative political calculations from various quarters. However, it emphasised that any major political decisions, particularly those with significant implications for the people of Abia, would only be made after broad consultations with stakeholders and in the best interest of the state.
Governor Otti reiterated his commitment to governance, stressing that it would be premature and unfair to the electorate to shift focus to the politics of the 2027 elections less than two years into his administration. The statement further affirmed his loyalty to the Labour Party, denying any ongoing discussions or plans to defect to the APC or any other political party.
“Governor Otti remains a member of the Labour Party and is presently not planning or discussing with anyone to defect to the APC or any other party for that matter, as falsely alleged,” the statement read.
The governor’s media office urged the public and the media to verify information before dissemination, warning against the spread of unfounded rumours that could distract from the administration’s developmental agenda.
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