Alex Otti, the governor of Abia state, has denied claims linking him to a planned defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Reports had alleged that Otti recently met with Hope Uzodimma, the Imo governor, to discuss a potential move to the ruling party.

The claims surfaced after Thursday’s national economic council (NEC) meeting at the presidential villa.

In a statement on Saturday, Ferdinand Ekeoma, special adviser to Otti on media and publicity, described the reports as “false, baseless and unfounded”.

The governor’s spokesperson said the alleged meeting was misrepresented and had no political undertone.

“After the National Economic Council meeting on Thursday, April 24, Governor Otti and a few of his colleagues joined Governor Uzodinma to attend the birthday celebration of his twin daughters, an event that had nothing to do with politics,” he said.

Ekeoma said Otti’s “rising profile and performance” as Abia governor may be fuelling speculation and political projections from various quarters.

He said decisions with long-term consequences would only be taken in consultation with the people of Abia and the governor’s close allies.

According to him, Otti remains focused on governance and believes it is premature to allow 2027 politics to “distract from the mandate of service to Abians”.

“We wish to emphatically state that 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,” he added.

In recent weeks, major opposition parties have lost several members to the ruling APC, with more governors and key party members reportedly planning to defect.