Abia State Governor Alex Otti affirmed his unwavering commitment to the Labour Party on December 31, 2025, dismissing speculation he would follow Peter Obi in any potential exit amid the party's deepening leadership crisis. In a firm statement, Otti declared, "I won't defect with Obi, I remain in Labour Party," countering narratives of his alignment with Obi's faction against Julius Abure's National Working Committee.
Otti's vow comes as his camp submitted a rival 34-man Interim NWC list to INEC, superseding Abure's structure and citing July 2025 NEC resolutions, escalating the battle for party control ahead of 2027. Abure's faction accuses Otti of "stifling" LP through arrests of state executives and threats, demanding Tinubu's intervention while branding him a "one-chance" governor post-2023 victory.
The banker-turned-governor, who rejected multiple parties before LP's 2022 ticket, faces suspension threats and ward congress boycotts in Abia, yet insists his loyalty endures despite Abure's "doomsday" warnings. Otti's media team refutes abandonment claims, highlighting his role in LP's Obi-era surge that delivered Abia.
This splits LP's "Obidient" base: Otti's fidelity contrasts Rivers' Fubara-Wike defections and Kwankwaso's Kano warnings, positioning Abia as a battleground. With ward congresses nationwide (Abia suspended), INEC's recognition holds the key as Obi remains silent amid Southeast realignments like Umahi's Tinubu push.