Nigeria, April 26 -- Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has refuted reports that he plans to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

A report surfaced online recently suggesting that Mr Otti met with Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State as a prelude to his alleged plan to defect to the APC.

Mr Uzodinma, a second-term governor, is an APC leader in the South-east.

However, in a statement on Saturday by Ferdinand Ekeoma, the special adviser on media and publicity, Mr Otti described the report as "false, baseless, and unfounded."

"It's completely devoid of substance and thus should be disregarded," the governor said.

According to the statement, Mr Otti said the reported meeting with Governor Uzodinma was only a birthday party he atte...