Alex Otti, the governor of Abia State, has firmly denied reports linking him to a planned defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Recent reports had alleged that Otti met with Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, to discuss a possible move to the ruling party, following Thursday’s National Economic Council (NEC) meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
However, in a statement issued on Saturday, Ferdinand Ekeoma, Special Adviser to Otti on Media and Publicity, described the claims as “false, baseless, and unfounded.” He clarified that the alleged meeting was misrepresented and had no political undertones.
“After the National Economic Council meeting on Thursday, April 24, Governor Otti and a few of his colleagues attended the birthday celebration of Governor Uzodinma’s twin daughters — an event that had absolutely nothing to do with politics,” Ekeoma said.
He noted that Governor Otti’s “rising profile and performance” as Abia governor may have triggered speculations and political projections from different quarters. Ekeoma stressed that any decision with long-term consequences would be made only in consultation with the people of Abia State and Otti’s close political allies.
The statement reiterated that Governor Otti remains fully committed to his mandate and that it would be premature to allow 2027 political calculations to distract from the current focus on governance and service delivery.
“We wish to emphatically state that Governor Otti remains a member of the Labour Party and is not planning or discussing with anyone about defecting to the APC or any other party,” Ekeoma said.
In recent weeks, the ruling APC has attracted several members from major opposition parties, with reports suggesting that more governors and key political figures may also be considering a switch.
