Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, and national leadership of the party have been urged to intervene and forestall attempts to sabotage the success of the party in the coming 2023 general elections in Imo State.
Association of Labour Party Local Council Chairmen and Association of the Labour Party Pioneer Members made this call during separate meetings held in Owerri yesterday.
The party leaders accused Ezenwa Onyewuchi, a senatorial candidate in the party, of causing a leadership crisis by imposing non-members to displace duly elected executive members across all levels in the state.
Speaking to newsmen on behalf of party leaders, Chairman of all Council Chairmen, Owerri Zone, Dr Anuka Michael, said: “It has come to our knowledge that Onyewuchi, our senatorial candidate for Owerri zone, is making efforts to selfishly thwart the democratic process and justice, which form the bedrock of our party.
“We are aware of how he has been plotting to remove some of us, the party executives, at the state, local council and ward levels in the state and replace them with his stooges and loyalists against the constitution and collective interest of the party.”
“As far as we are concerned, Chief Ikechukwu Ukaegbu remains the leader of the Labour Party in Imo and not Onyewuchi.
“We have unanimously resolved to remain obedient to his leadership directives and authority.”
Also, Patrick Ojukwu, Coordinator of the Association of the Labour Party Pioneer Members, said: “The action of Onyewuchi and his cohorts is not only capable of disintegrating the party in Imo, but also sabotage our efforts aimed at achieving victory for our presidential candidate and other candidates in the 2023 general elections.
“We also resolved to remain united and stand against attempts to hijack the leadership of the party for individual interest. This is because we believe that anybody working against our collective interests does not mean well for our party and should be stopped.
“We used the opportunity to appeal to our presidential candidate, Obi and the national leadership, to intervene and call Onyewuchi to order in the interest of peace, success and progress of the party, especially in Imo.”
