Two Imo gov. candidates are chosen by different Labour Party factions
Two Imo gov. candidates are chosen by different Labour Party factions
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The ongoing crisis looming in the Labour Party in Imo State has taken another turn when two fractions of the party produced different candidates for the governorship election. The two governorship flag bearers in the parallel primary elections held over the weekend are Senator Athan Achonu and Ikechukwu Ukaegbu.
Mohammed Ibrahim Alkali, the National Vice Chairman of the party, who represented the acting National Chairman of the party, Lamido Apapa, announced him as the winner and handed the party flag to him, and noted that the election conducted had followed due process.
It was also affirmed by the National Youth Leader of the Labour Party, Anselem Iragbe, who address newsmen that the election which was conducted on Sunday had met all legal requirements.
According to the youth leader, the Julius Abure-led faction which conducted the Saturday primary election was not legally bound to do so.
He said,
“The election held today, April 16, is the official party governorship primary. On April 4, an FCT High Court issued a restraining order against Julius Abure, the National Chairman, his treasurer, and the organizing secretary, requesting that they cease posing as Labour Party officials.
“This indicates that as of May 5, they are no longer party officials. Thus, whatever election was held yesterday is invalid in the eyes of the law.”
On the other hand, the Abure-led faction of the party had conducted its own primary election earlier on Saturday where Senator Athan Achonu emerged as the winner with 134 votes defeating Lincoln Ugunewe his closest rival who polled 125 votes.
