Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has distanced himself from the newly formed opposition coalition aiming to unseat President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections.
The governor made it clear he has no intention of joining the alliance, which formally adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as its political platform.
All members of the ADC national executive committee resigned from their positions on Wednesday, following the party’s adoption as the official platform for a new opposition coalition involving several influential political figures.
The mass resignation was announced at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja during a meeting attended by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai, and ex-Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi.
The outgoing ADC National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, confirmed the leadership overhaul and announced the appointment of former Senate President David Mark as the interim National Chairman of the party, while former Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, was named interim National Secretary.
Nwosu, while speaking to journalists, described the decision as one made in the national interest.
But speaking during an interactive session with members of the Abia State Global Economic Council in Umuahia, Otti reaffirmed his commitment to the Labour Party (LP).
“You have a right to dream, I also have the right to state that I’m still a member of the Labour Party and I’m not looking for where to decamp to,” he said.
The Governor continued: “A lot of people have been asking: Are you a member of the coalition? And my response is, ‘Have you seen my name? Have you seen me attending any coalition meeting?’”
Otti stressed that he and his team remain committed to fulfilling their mandate to the people of Abia State.
“We are busy doing the work that Abia people have given us. We are not attending any coalition meeting. I have not attended one. Nobody has invited me,” the governor said.
He acknowledged past challenges within the party, but expressed optimism about resolving outstanding issues.
“Yes, we had issues. A lot of people believe that a few issues that remain would be solved very soon because the Supreme Court judgment was very clear,” he added.