Abia denies Otti’s alleged defection talks with Imo gov

Abia State government says that Governor Alex Otti did not hold any meeting with Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma for Otti to join the All Progressive Congress, APC, ahead of the 2027 polls.

A statement on Saturday signed by Ferdinand Ekeoma, Special Adviser to Governor Otti on Media and Publicity, described the defection rumour as false, baseless and unfounded and should be disregarded.

According to Abia State government, Governor Alex Otti and a few of his colleagues on Thursday, joined Governor Uzodinma to attend the birthday celebration of his twin daughters after the National Economic Council meeting, saying that the event had nothing to do with politics.

Ekeoma said that though Otti’s popularity and credentials as the Governor of Abia State may attract admiration and permutations from interested parties, “Governor Otti’s political decisions, especially those that would have huge impact and far-reaching consequences on Abians, would at all times be taken in conjunction with majority of Abians and his allies”.

He noted that decisions that would be taken by the Governor must be justified and be seen to be in the overriding interest of Abia people, even as he advised Abia people not to allow discussions about the gathering momentum of 2027 politics to distract good governance in the State.

“Finally, we wish to emphatically state that 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 concluded.