Abia State Governor Alex Otti has dismissed speculation that he may abandon the Labour Party (LP), insisting he has no plans to defect despite indications that the party’s 2023 presidential flagbearer, Peter Obi, is preparing to leave the platform.

Speaking on Tuesday during his monthly media briefing in Umuahia, the state capital, Otti made it clear that his political future remains tied to the Labour Party, which he said he intends to help rebuild and reposition.

The governor disclosed that Obi had personally informed him of his decision to exit the LP, a move he said he respected and did not oppose. However, Otti stressed that Obi’s choice would not influence his own path.

“I joined the Labour Party before Peter Obi did, so my membership was not because of him,” Otti explained. “He told me he is leaving the party, and I gave him my blessings. But I made it clear that I will stay behind to continue the struggle to rescue and strengthen the Labour Party.”

Reaffirming his loyalty, Otti said the LP provided the platform that brought him into office and, for now, remains his political home.

“This is the party that brought me to power,” he said. “If we fight through the challenges and succeed in repositioning the Labour Party, then we can have conversations about other options. But as it stands today, I am not defecting.”

The governor also responded to comments by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, who had publicly encouraged him to join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Otti brushed aside the call, saying he was not interested in political distractions.

“Normally, I wouldn’t even respond to such matters,” he noted, adding that his priority remains governance rather than political banter.

While addressing the issue, Otti acknowledged Kalu’s recent distribution of financial assistance to vulnerable residents in Abia State, describing it as a positive gesture that aligned with his own call for support for the less privileged during the festive season.

“I appreciate him for doing that,” the governor said, while emphasizing his preference for calm, principled leadership.

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Quoting former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, Otti concluded by reaffirming his focus on governance: “You will never reach your destination if you stop to throw stones at every dog that barks.” He added that his administration would remain committed to serving the people of Abia State without being sidetracked by political noise.