The Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, is reportedly exploring alternative political avenues outside the Labour Party and the Obidient movement in preparation for the 2027 elections.
This comes after the Independent National Electoral Commission recently restored recognition to the Julius Abure-led faction of the LP.
According to a report from Daily Sun, sources claim that the Abure faction has become increasingly aligned with the ruling All Progressives Congress. The APC, according to these sources, is intent on destabilizing any political entity associated with Peter Obi, aiming to weaken opposition ahead of the 2027 presidential race.
Allegations suggest that the APC views the LP crisis as an opportunity to further its anti-Obi agenda.
One source emphasized that the Abure faction, once blacklisted by INEC, has now regained its position, seemingly through the influence of both INEC and the judiciary. This has led to accusations that the faction has become an extension of the APC. The source further claimed that APC sympathizers within the Abure-led LP National Working Committee are working to undermine key figures such as Governor Otti, Peter Obi, and other members of the National and State Assemblies involved in the recent Umuahia meeting and the establishment of a caretaker committee.
As the 2027 elections approach, the Abure faction is reportedly plotting to thwart the ambitions of these figures, with plans to deny them Labour Party tickets. The source indicated that the faction might either align with President Bola Tinubu as a presidential candidate or field a weaker alternative from the Yoruba community to avoid posing a serious challenge to the president.
In response, a close ally of Governor Otti, speaking on the condition of anonymity, confirmed that the governor is aware of the plots against him and is already taking steps to counter them. The source noted that despite the shifting political landscape and the turmoil within the Labour Party, Governor Otti remains ahead of Abure’s efforts to block his re-election. Otti, according to the source, is planning an independent political strategy that will allow him to navigate the growing political challenges.
The ally also revealed that while Otti is still formally a member of the Labour Party, he is actively preparing to thwart any attempts by Abure and his faction to undermine his political future. The recent success of Otti’s candidates in the Abia local government elections, according to the source, offers a glimpse into his political strategy for the 2027 race.
A source said, “Believe it or not, the Abure faction of the LP which was initially blacklisted by INEC is now back to reckoning on the strength of INEC and judiciary and this speaks to how LP has become an appendage of the APC. APC hirelings in the Abure-led LP NWC who have been heavily compromised are bent on getting even with Governor Otti, Obi and National and state Assembly members involved in the Umuahia meeting and setting up of the caretaker committee.
“Ahead 2027, Abure and his group are plotting devastating landmines against the category of LP members I have just mentioned. I have it on good authority that unless higher courts eventually sustain Abure’s ouster- which in any case looks pretty impossible because certain interests in the ruling APC have completely compromised otherwise impartial state institutions- everything will be done to deny or make it impossible for Otti, Obi and serving National and state Assembly members who participated in the Umuahia meeting to get LP tickets in 2027.
“Part of the grand design is to collapse the faction into the APC. The other options are either adopt President Tinubu as its presidential flag bearer for 2027 or field a weak Yoruba candidate that will offer feeble or no challenge at all to the president at the polls.”
Meanwhile, a loyalist of Governor Otti who pleaded anonymity “because I’m not supposed to speak to the press about this thing or reveal it” told the aforementioned publication that the governor is in the know of Abure’s antics and the impending ambush against his re-election and has put mechanisms in motion to fend them off.
He said, “Notwithstanding whatever political realignment or configuration His Excellency, Peter and the Obidient movement may be planning in the face of the mess Labour Party has become, I can reveal to you in confidence that His Excellency, Governor Otti is way ahead of Abure and his group in their plan to torpedo his second term; Governor Otti is set to chart a separate, independent political future.
“I can also tell you authoritatively that His Excellency is still a member of the Labour party only in name…he has his plans and will thwart Abure’s sinister moves against him. The outcome of the just concluded Abia local government election gives a clue as to what to expect in the run-up to 2027.”
