NEWS
GOV ALEX OTTI SPEAKS TO ABIANS: “I AM IN THE LABOUR PARTY. IF ELECTION HAPPENS TOMORROW, I WILL RUN UNDER LP. BUT NOBODY KNOWS TOMORROW” — GOV. OTTI SAYS, REAFFIRMS UNFLINCHING LOYALTY TO LABOUR PARTY AS SUPREME COURT VINDICATES HIM
The Executive Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, OFR, has once again reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to the Labour Party (LP), declaring that his political allegiance remains firmly with the party and that he would not hesitate to contest future elections on its platform.
The Governor made this emphatic declaration on Thursday at the Government House, Umuahia, during the January 2026 edition of “Governor Alex Otti Speaks to Abians,” a monthly media parley with journalists drawn from across the state.
Governor Otti’s position comes against the backdrop of recent landmark judgments by the Federal High Court and the Supreme Court on the lingering leadership crisis rocking the Labour Party at the national level.
According to him, the apex court’s decisions have effectively vindicated his long-held stance, as well as that of other party leaders who refused to abandon the party despite months of internal turbulence and legal battles.
Speaking with clarity and confidence, the Governor recalled that his camp had consistently maintained that the tenure of the former National Chairman of the party, Barrister Julius Abure, had elapsed, a position now upheld by the highest court in the land.
“We had consistently maintained that the tenure of Barrister Julius Abure had expired. He went to court, and the Supreme Court affirmed that his tenure had indeed expired. The apex court also advised that people should be humble enough to vacate office when their tenure ends, to save the courts from unnecessary litigation,” Otti stated.
Governor Otti further explained that the Supreme Court did not stop at declaring the expiration of Abure’s tenure but went ahead to give a clear directive on the rightful leadership to be recognized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
He said the apex court’s pronouncement, which asked INEC to recognize Senator Nenadi Usman as the leader of the Labour Party, has conclusively settled the leadership question.
“With the clear pronouncement asking INEC to recognize Senator Nenadi Usman, and I am aware that the Certified True Copy has been forwarded to them, INEC will do the right thing,” he said.
Reaffirming his personal political future and dispelling speculations about possible defection, Governor Otti restated:
“I am in the Labour Party. If election happens tomorrow, I will run under LP. But nobody knows tomorrow.”
Observers at the event described the declaration as a strong signal of stability and loyalty at a time when Nigeria’s political landscape is witnessing frequent cross-carpeting and realignments.
Beyond party politics, Governor Otti also used the interactive session to brief Abians on the progress of critical projects and wide-ranging reforms being executed by his administration across various sectors of the state’s economy.
He highlighted ongoing infrastructure development, institutional reforms, and governance initiatives aimed at deepening transparency, improving service delivery, and positioning Abia State as a model of responsible and people-oriented leadership.
The January 2026 edition of “Governor Alex Otti Speaks to Abians” once again provided a platform for direct engagement between the Governor and the media, reinforcing his administration’s commitment to openness, accountability, and continuous dialogue with the people of Abia State.