Abia State Governor, Alex Otti has declared that he is still a member of the Labour Party (LP) despite the defeat suffered by his party during the recent Abia State local government elections.
Otti, who stated this at Government House Umuahia while responding to questions from journalists during his monthly chat with the press, on Thursday, blamed the crisis in LP for the abysmal performance the party recorded.
He explained that a lot of his supporters who were dissatisfied with the crisis in the LP went elsewhere, even as he said that his followers voted for right candidates irrespective of their political party platforms.
“I can assure you that I am in the Labour Party. The crisis in the Labour Party made a lot of our supporters go elsewhere.
“Political parties are simply platforms and when you muddle up things in your political party, you create opportunities for your competitor and that was what happened during this last election.
“I remain in the Labour Party and any time I am going to leave, that is if there is any need to leave, you will be properly informed,” he declared.
On the statement by leaders of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP) Abia State chapter that they did not waive their gratuities, the governor reiterated that the retirees were never deceived into signing documents with the state government as they alleged.