The Labour Party (LP) has rebuffed an attempt by Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, to lure Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, into the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Akpabio, who spoke during the 70th birthday celebration of Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe in Abia State on Saturday, commended Otti’s developmental strides in the state. However, his comments soon took on a political undertone as he suggested the governor would gain greater recognition if he defected to the APC.
“Congratulations, my governor. I have already started seeing your work, but I can’t stand here and praise you because you are in the Labour Party. You are still labouring. The day you join the APC, you will hear the kind of praise I will give you,” Akpabio quipped.
Reacting to the statement, LP’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, in an interview with The PUNCH on Sunday, dismissed any speculation of Otti abandoning the LP for the APC. He reaffirmed the governor’s unwavering loyalty to the Labour Party and its vision for Nigeria.
“In politics, it’s normal for parties to try and woo others, but Governor Alex Otti remains committed to the Labour Party. He has assured us he’s going nowhere,” Ifoh stated.
He further highlighted LP’s growing influence and the governor’s achievements in contrast to the performance of APC-led states.
“The fact that other parties want him shows the strength of the Labour Party’s ideology and the remarkable work being done in Abia State. Unlike many APC states that have struggled, our LP state shows serious commitment to human development, infrastructure, and empowerment,” Ifoh added.
