Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti has denied rumours making the round that he engaged in defection discussion with Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State, saying his alleged plans to dump the Labour Party, LP for the All Progressives Congress was untrue.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma, said, the rumour is baseless and unfounded as the governor has no reason to defect to another party.

“The report that His Excellency, Governor Alex Otti, held a meeting with Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State over his alleged planned defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC), is false, baseless and unfounded. It’s completely devoid of substance and thus should be disregarded.”

According to him, Dr Otti and other colleagues joined Hope Uzodinma after the National Economic Council, NEC meeting presided by the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima on Thursday, and they proceeded to attend the birthday celebration of his twin daughters, pointing out that the event has nothing to do with politics.

“It’s natural for Governor Otti’s impressive performance, popularity and towering credentials as the Governor of Abia State to attract admiration and permutations from interested parties, however, Governor Otti’s political decisions, especially those that would have huge impact and far-reaching consequences on Abians, would at all times be taken in conjunction with majority of Abians and his allies. Such decisions must be justified and be seen to be in the overriding interest of Abia people,” he added.

He further explained that Otti is currently focused on governance and not 2027 politics.

He said, “Governor Otti strongly holds the view that though political activities seem to have once again started gathering momentum, it would be unfair to the Abia electorate if politics of 2027, instead of governance, is allowed to dominate discussions less than two years into the administration.

Governor Otti remains a member of the Labour Party and is presently not planning or discussing with anyone to defect to the APC or any other party for that matter, as falsely alleged.”

The National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has declared that more governors are on their way to join the party.

This is coming in less than 24 hours after the entire political structure of Delta State defected to the party.

The National Chairman made the remarks at his residence on Thursday in Abuja, while officially receiving key members of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) from Kano State into the party.

The defectors were led by Senator Kawu Sumaila and the immediate past Secretary to the Kano State Government, Dr. Abdullahi Baffa Bichi.

Among the new APC entrants are serving and former members of the House of Representatives and the Kano State House of Assembly.

In his excitement, Ganduje expressed optimism that the 2027 general elections are already secured for the ruling party.

Addressing reporters after a closed-door meeting, Ganduje said:
“In APC, we believe in our President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we believe in his economic reforms, we believe in his Renewed Hope Agenda and part of the political renewed hope agenda is trying to canvass for more followership into the party.

“We started by democratically electing governors, especially in Edo State, who was in PDP, we contested, we succeeded in winning the election, the state is now in APC.

“Now, there is another channel that has been opened through advocacy, through dialogue, through convincing some highly and even elected governors to come into the party. And you can see what has happened now.

“The governor of Delta State is now in APC, including his cabinet, including all the members of the state assembly and House of Representatives, and the timber and caliber of PDP, now in APC, even including the former vice presidential candidate coming into our party.

“So you can see that we are expanding. I don’t want to reveal our secret, but what I’m telling you is that for APC 2027 is a done deal.”

When asked to confirm speculations about more governors defecting to the APC, Ganduje responded affirmatively, “Yes, more governors are coming into APC, I assure you, and places where we have election, APC Insha Allah will win those elections.”

Senator Sumaila, the leader of the defecting group, pledged loyalty to the APC and assured the leadership of his team’s commitment to the success of the party both in Kano and nationally.

On the implications of their defection, he stated:
“I will refer you to 2023 general election. Go and check the results. I mean the presidential, senatorial, and House of Representatives elections, where we contested the same day, the same polling unit with Kwankwaso. That will give you the answer to your question.”

Prominent among the defectors from Kano State are: Rt. Hon. Kabiru Alhasan Rurum (Rano/Kibiya Federal Constituency), Hon. Abdullahi Sani Rogo, Rt. Hon. Zubairu Hamza Massu (Kano State House of Assembly), Dr. A.B. Baffa Bichi (former SSG), Hon. Mohd Digol, Hon. Abbas S. Abbas, Hon. Sha’aban Ibrahim Lawal (former governorship candidate), Hon. Badamasi Ayuba Danbatta, and Hon. Idris Dankuwa.