The Labour Party has issued a stern warning to Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, accusing him of political double-dealing and calling on him to officially cut ties with the party if he insists on backing the newly formed opposition coalition.
In a press statement released on Friday and signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, the Labour Party’s National Chairman, Barrister Julius Abure, alleged that Governor Otti has been misleading the public by claiming loyalty to the Labour Party while openly supporting structures outside its fold.
“Our attention has been drawn to Otti’s interview where he said that he is still a member of the Labour Party,” Abure said.
“We are not going to fall for his deception again. How can he be in the Labour Party when recently he conducted the local government election in Abia State with Zenith Labour Party as his party?”
Abure said the party is aware that Otti is not only funding but also promoting an “illegal and unconstitutional caretaker committee” led by Nenadi Usman, which, according to him, has now merged with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as part of a wider political coalition.
“The icing on the cake was the Wednesday unveiling of the coalition where every member of the caretaker committee formally joined the ADC,” he said.
“We are shocked that Otti is paradoxically trying to mislead members of the Labour Party to say that he is still a member.”
The party noted that Governor Otti had already been suspended for alleged anti-party activities and emphasised that his continued affiliation with the party is both misleading and unacceptable.
“It is on this note that I call on Dr. Alex Otti to move on because he cannot be in the Labour Party and be working against the party,” Abure declared.
Reaffirming the Labour Party’s stance, the chairman distanced the party from the newly formed opposition coalition, branding it ideologically weak and politically opportunistic.
“Labour Party is not and cannot be in any coalition because coalitions of political parties are ideologically bereft,” Abure said.
“It is a marriage of political strange fellows whose only agenda is power grabbing. It is selfish in nature and no true Democrat will agree to such amalgam.”
Abure added that the Labour Party is already repositioning ahead of the 2027 general elections, aiming to attract young, principled Nigerians who are passionate about nation-building.
“Labour Party is on the move again. We have the best brand in Nigeria and we are eager to engage young Nigerians who have the interest of the nation at heart,” he said.
“We are therefore willing to let go of everyone, no matter how high, whose interest in Nigeria is self-driven.”
The statement comes amid growing tensions within the opposition following the announcement of a coalition movement involving several political actors, including members of the Labour Party’s caretaker faction and former presidential candidate, Peter Obi.