· 13 Pick guber Forms
From Everest Ezihe, Owerri
There are strong indications that the feat and euphoria that greeted the berth of the Labour Party, LP in Imo State during the February 25 presidential and national assembly elections may be short-lived as internal power tussle and supremacy have engulfed the political party.
This is worrisome because the issue if not properly handled may tear the political party apart moreso as the party is participating in this Saturday INEC conducted State assemblies election.
It’s pertinent to recall that INEC had earlier informed all political parties in the State to conduct and conclude everything concerning their gubernatorial primary within the next 6 Weeks as the electoral body has already scheduled Saturday November 11th governorship election in the State.
Meanwhile, about 13 members of the party have signalled interest to vie for the governorship ticket of the party in the State even amidst surging altercations over the state leadership of the party and who controls the party structure.
Probably to enthrone political sanity and discipline, last week a new caretaker committee led by Mr. Festus Onyekwulisi, was inaugurated by the national leadership of the party, but the out-gone executives led by Mr. Fabian Onyekwere claimed to have gone to Court and secured an order reinstating them.
However, The Authority Newspaper in Owerri has gathered that despite the rumbles in the party, more governorship hopefuls have continued to pick the party’s governorship Nomination and Expression of Interest Forms as the victory they achieved during the last elections in the State has remained tonics of hope in their aspirations.
Those who have made serious financial commitments and indicated their interest to flag the party’s governorship flag include General Jackson Ogunewe (retd), a one-time military attaché to the United Nations, UN, serial governorship aspirants, Martin Agbaso, Humphrey Anumudu and Ike. C. Ibe.
Others are Attorney Charles Onyirimba, Hon. Basil Maduka, Captain David Mbamara, former Speaker, Imo State House of Assembly, Kelechi Nwagwu, Senator Athan Achonu and Ikechukwu Ukaegbu.
The date for the party’s governorship primary is between April and mid May , 2023.
Political pundits have seriously observed and lamented that despite the scramble for the party’s governorship forms, there are deep concerns over the internal crisis gradually rearing its ugly head which unattended to may led to the party’s destabilization in the state.
It’s pertinent to recall that the trouble was instigated as a result of power play among the governorship hopefuls about who controls the soul of the party, prompting Julius Abure, the National Chairman of the party to remove the Fabian Onyekwere led State Executive Committee and appointed a new caretaker committee with the mandate of midwifing the party’s governorship primary.
However, Onyekwulisi, on assumption of office had signalled the party’s readiness to sack Governor Hope Uzodimma from Government House, Owerri, in the November 11, 2023 governorship election while talking tough.
However, Onyekwere and his group objected to the Party’s national leadership directives as they quickly approached High Court in Owerri and challenged their removal from office even against their stipulated tenure time line.
In their notice to the Resident Electoral Commissioner, INEC, Imo State they said that the “High Court of Imo State has issued an order for the maintenance of status quo in the matter of the purported dissolution of the State Working Committee and alleged appointment of a Caretaker Committee for the Labour party Imo State chapter
