Breaking: Ihejiagwa still LP Chairman in Imo, says Achonu

Candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 Imo governorship election, Sen. Athan Achonu has said that Mr Callistus Ihejiagwa remains the party’s Chairman in Imo, describing his position as “sacrosanct”.

This is contained in a release signed by the Director-General, Senator Athan Achonu Campaign Organisation, Chief Chime Nzeribe, made available to newsmen in Owerri, on Tuesday.

Nzeribe said that Achonu’s reaction had become necessary to dispel speculations in some sections of the media that Ihejiagwa was no longer the LP Chairman in Imo.

“ It has come to our attention that certain individuals are falsely claiming that the Imo LP Chairman, Callistus Ihejiagwa, has ceased to hold his position following the stakeholders’ meeting.

“ We categorically state that these claims are without merit because at no point during the stakeholders’ meeting, which Senator Achonu personally attended, was there any discussion regarding changes to the State Executive.

“ The fact remains that no congress has been held, and until such a congress takes place, Callistus Ihejiagwa remains the duly recognized state Chairman of the LP in Imo “, he said.

Achonu who noted that the party’s embattled National Chairman, Julius Abure, was not above the law, expressed hope of a peaceful resolution to all disputes, to strengthen the party.

“We call on all members of the Labour Party in Imo to remain resolute and committed to supporting the leadership of Callistus Ihejiagwa until a congress is held, and any changes are made through our democratic processes.

“ For the Achonu campaign, the Abure-led national executive is like the shell of the body, while the stakeholders represent the soul—neither can exist without the other.

“ The Labour Party must find a way to come together and ensure we achieve the Nigeria of our dreams, which only the Labour Party can guarantee”, he said.

He called on all LP faithful to always accommodate alternative voices, learn lessons and strive for peaceful resolutions to keep the party on a strong footing.

Achonu however warned that “any attempts to destabilize our ranks will not succeed”.

Our correspondent however reports that an Abuja Federal High Court, on Tuesday, ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognize Abure as the LP National Chairman.