2027: Otti parts ways with Obi, remains in LP

From Okey Sampson, Umuahia

Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti said he is parting political ways with the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi as the 2027 election beckons.

Governor Otti stated this on Tuesday, during the December edition of the Monthly Media Parley, tagged “Governor Otti Speaks,” while responding to questions from Journalists on speculations surrounding his political future following the exit of the party’s 2023 Presidential Candidate, Mr Obi.

Otti stated that although he joined the Labour Party before Obi and had been informed of Obi’s decision to leave the party, he had resolved to remain and continue efforts to stabilise the LP

“If you remember, I joined the Labour Party before Peter Obi. He communicated to me that he was leaving the Labour Party and I gave him my blessings, but I told him that I would remain in the Labour Party.

“I told him that I would have to continue the struggle to rescue the Labour Party. That is the party that brought me to power. But for now, I am not defecting with him”, Otti said.

Insisting that his focus remains on governance and the consolidation of the mandate that brought him to office, the Governor added that any thought of moving to another political party would only come after exhausting internal efforts to strengthen the Labour Party.

Reacting to the call by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, for him to join the All Progressives Congress (APC), Otti said he had taken decision not to be distracted by political overtures or commentary.

Quoting former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill Otti said, “You will never get to your destination if you stop and throw stones at every dog that barks”.

Otti commended Hon Kalu for his recent rice gifts to vulnerable persons during the Christmas season, saying it was good Kalu heeded to his advice to Abians of means to help the less privileged in society at this time.

“You specifically mentioned his invitation to me to join APC. Ordinarily, I would not respond on matters that have to do with the Right Honourable Benjamin Kalu, but since you have asked, the first thing is to thank him for heeding the call that I made.

“Those of you who listened to my Christmas message, i had called on our people who have means to extend their consideration to the less privileged particularly at this time.

“To see that he heeded that call and distributed rice and some items to vulnerable people, i thank him for doing that. But then I have also taken the principle decision not to dignify all the comments he made with any response”, the Governor stated.

Otti used the occasion to reel out his achievements in office and said Abians should expect more dividends of democracy over the time.