Governor Alex Otti has been urged by Sam Nkire, the founding leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Abia State Caucus, to defect from the Labour Party (LP) and join the APC in order to increase his chances of winning reelection in 2027.
Nkire reportedly restated the Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s initial advice over the weekend, stating that Otti ought to give the switch careful thought.
Remember how Akpabio made the call while in the capital of Abia State, Umuahia, celebrating Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe’s 70th birthday?
“My governor, congratulations.” I have already begun to view your work, but since you are a member of the Labour Party, I am unable to stand here and give you praise. Thus, you are still in labor. I’ll tell you what I have to say by the time you visit APC. You’ll hear my compliments about you. As Akpabio said, “I will celebrate you.”
In response to Akpabio’s assertion, Nkire contended that during 2027, the Labour Party of 2023 would have changed.
According to him, “Dr. Alex Otti would have to put in a lot of extra effort to win with LP, let alone with any party other than APC.”
Akpabio was not the first well-known APC leader to make such an invitation, Nkire added, implying that President Bola Tinubu may do so shortly.
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The chairman of the Abia State LP, Emmanuel Otti, however, rejected the calls for Otti to leave, saying, “This is his modest opinion.” Water does not hold it.
Otti’s dedication to the party was reaffirmed in an interview on Sunday by Obiora Ifoh, the National Publicity Secretary for the LP, who also insisted that he has no plans to leave.
It is acceptable for politicians to court other people. Governor Alex Otti has been courted by numerous parties, not just the APC. He is still with the Labour Party, though, and he has promised us that he is not leaving,” Ifoh said.
He went on to highlight the accomplishments of the LP and contrast them with the alleged shortcomings of states led by the APC.
He is a representative of the LP ideology, which is deserving of imitation if people are still courting him. The majority of APC states have been a complete failure, while our LP state is demonstrating a strong commitment to infrastructure, empowerment, and human development. Obiorah continued, “For this reason, we think the Labour Party is the best option for Nigerians.
