Why I will not follow Peter Obi to ADC – Gov. Otti

By Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja

Abia governor, Alex Otti, has said the 2023 presidential candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi has informed him of his plans to dump the party. Otti, the only governor elected on the platform of Labour Party, however, said he will not join Obi to abandon the party.

The Abia State Governor said this while speaking during his monthly media chat in Umuahia, the state capital on Tuesday noted that he joined Labour Party before Peter Obi not with him

Otti spoke ahead of the planned formal defection of Obi to the African Democratic Congress, ADC, today Wednesday, 31 December, in Enugu State.

Otti said he will continue to rescue Labour Party as the platform on which he was elected into office.

He said, “If you remember, I joined the Labour Party before Peter Obi, so I did not join the party with him.

“He has communicated to me that he is leaving the Labour Party. I gave him my blessings. But I will remain in the Labour Party, and I told him that I would continue the struggle to rescue the Labour Party.

“That is the party that brought me to power. If we fight and get to the end, and we are able to reposition the Labour Party, then we can discuss other options. Therefore, for now, I am not defecting to any party.”

However, Otti refused to speak directly on appeal by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, that he should join the All Progressives Congress, APC.

The Governor said he did not want to be distracted by responding to such calls.

He said, “Ordinarily, I would not respond to matters like that. However, those of you who listened to my Christmas message will recall that I called on our people who have enough to extend support to the less privileged, particularly persons with disabilities.

“So, seeing that he heeded the call and distributed money to vulnerable people, I thank him for doing that.

“But I have also taken a principled decision not to be provoked or condescending in my response. I am sure you are aware of a man called Winston Churchill. He was a two-time Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and lived from 1874 to 1965.

“He was a profound thinker and writer who said, ‘You will never get to your destination if you stop to throw stones at every dog that barks.’ We will remain focused on our job.”

Meanwhile, leaders of Obidient Movement as supporters of Obi are called, are already gathered in Enugu for the defection of the former presidential candidate to ADC.

Leader of the Obidients Movement, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, said Obi had been a member of the ADC coalition.

But he added that his formal declaration as member of ADC today is to chart the way forward for his numerous supporters.

Obi had some days ago reiterated his determination to contest the 2027 presidential poll.

Obi, also a former governor of Anambra State said he is the best prepared for the job.