Abia State Governor Alex Otti has dismissed allegations of holding a secret meeting with Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma to discuss a potential defection from the Labour Party (LP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a statement issued on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma, Governor Otti labeled the reports as baseless and urged the public to disregard them.
“The claim that I held a meeting with Governor Hope Uzodimma to plan a defection to the APC is completely false and without merit, “I remain fully committed to the Labour Party and its principles, focused on delivering quality governance to the people of Abia.” Otti stated.
Otti explained that following the National Economic Council meeting on Thursday, he and a few fellow governors accompanied Uzodimma to a private birthday celebration for the Imo governor’s twin daughters in Abuja.
According to him, the event was purely social and devoid of any political discussions.
“The gathering was a personal celebration and had no political undertone whatsoever,”. Governor Otti remains steadfast in his allegiance to the Labour Party and is dedicated to fulfilling his mandate of improving the lives of Abians.” Ekeoma clarified.
Addressing speculation about his future political plans, Otti emphasized that decisions impacting his political career would be made collectively with his allies and the people of Abia. He dismissed talks of the 2027 elections as premature and a distraction from governance.
“Governor Otti firmly believes that it would be unfair to Abia citizens to focus on the politics of 2027 when the administration is just getting started,” “His priority remains delivering on the promises he made to the electorate.”the statement read.
Acknowledging his growing popularity and impressive performance as governor, Otti pointed out that such achievements naturally attract political speculation. However, he assured Abians that his actions would always prioritize their interests.
“Governor Otti’s political decisions will always reflect the collective will and benefit of Abians, He is committed to building a legacy of transparency, accountability, and progress.” Ekeoma added.
“Let there be no doubt: Governor Otti is not in discussions to join the APC or any other party. His focus remains on the work at hand—delivering good governance to Abia State.”he concluded.
