Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has disclosed that the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has informed him of his decision to leave the party.
Otti made this known on Tuesday during his monthly media briefing in Umuahia, the Abia State capital. He spoke ahead of Obi’s planned formal defection to the African Democratic Congress in Enugu on Wednesday.
The governor, who is the only Labour Party governor in the country, said he would not follow Obi out of the party, stressing that he joined the Labour Party before the former Anambra State governor.
Otti speaks on Obi’s exit
Otti said Obi personally informed him of his decision and that he gave him his blessing. He said:
“If you remember, I joined the Labour Party before Peter Obi, so I did not join the party with him.
“He has communicated to me that he is leaving the Labour Party. I gave him my blessings. But I will remain in the Labour Party, and I told him that I would continue the struggle to rescue the Labour Party.
“That is the party that brought me to power. If we fight and get to the end, and we are able to reposition the Labour Party, then we can discuss other options. Therefore, for now, I am not defecting to any party.”
APC call and response
Otti declined to respond directly to calls by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, urging him to join the All Progressives Congress. He said he did not want to be distracted.
He stated: “Ordinarily, I would not respond to matters like that. However, those of you who listened to my Christmas message will recall that I called on our people who have enough to extend support to the less privileged, particularly persons with disabilities.
“So, seeing that he heeded the call and distributed money to vulnerable people, I thank him for doing that.
“But I have also taken a principled decision not to be provoked or condescending in my response.”
The governor further quoted former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, saying:
“You will never get to your destination if you stop to throw stones at every dog that barks.”
Obi’s ADC move
Meanwhile, supporters of Peter Obi, known as the Obidient Movement, have gathered in Enugu ahead of his formal declaration into the ADC.
Leader of the movement, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, said Obi had been part of the ADC coalition and that the formal declaration would help chart a clear direction for his supporters.
Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, has reiterated his intention to contest the 2027 presidential election, insisting that he is well prepared for the task.