* Governor gets Okigwe zone’s endorsement
FromEverest Ezihe, Owerri
Imo state governor, Hole Uzodimma is at the centre of the current crisis rocking the state chapter of the Labour Party (LP), ahead of the November 11, following his alleged donation of $1m to aide the party’s governorship candidate, senator Athan Achonu, to win the April 15 governorship primary of the party in Owerri
Stakeholder of the LP had petitioned the party’s primary appeal committee, alleging massive vote buyin, where it noted that each delegate was given $300 by Achonu, from the alleged $1milliuon collected from Governor Uzodimma to enable him win the primary election
Achonu was declared winner of the April 15, LP primary in the state, after polling a total number of 134 delegate votes to defeat his closest rival, Major General Lincoln Jack Ogunewe (Rtd), who polled 121 votes
There were however allegations that Achonu was sponsored to clinch the Labour Party ticket by Governor Hope Uzodimma, so as to make his re – election an easy one.
Senator Achonu, who is from Imo North senatorial district, was among the late entries into the Labour Party, having lost his bid to pick the ticket of the his former party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), for Imo North senatorial election.
Imo is one of the three states INEC plans to hold off-season governorship elections in November this year.
Governor Uzodinma, who is seeking a second term in office, is reportedly not comfortable with the wave LP is making in South East, and is working to weaken the party in Imo State.
The LP platform attracted many aspirants, but Athan Achonu, a former Senator on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), emerged as LP candidate in the April 15 primaries.
A video currently in circulation alleged that the governor gave senator Achonu $1 million to pay delegates, who voted for him during the primaries. It was also alleged that each delegate was wooed with $300 to vote the senator at the primary election
The deal was said to be brokered by a former governor of the state, Ikedi Ohakim, who is said to be a reliable friend and strong supporter of Governor Hope Uzodimma ,
Ohakim has however denied having any link to the said $1million deal
Imo Obedient Movement, after its stakeholders’ meeting in Owerri on April 20, resolved to support Ogunewe, and asked the National Chairman “to quickly implement the recommendation of the Hon. Ceekay Igbara-led Labour Party Appeal committee report published on 16th of April 2023 and recognise Major General Ogunewe “as the authentic flag bearer of the party within the next couple of days or we will ask him to immediately secure the ticket of another party.”
According to the group, the appeal committee report clearly captured what transpired in the LP gubernatorial primary election in Imo State and “it looks like what happened during the PDP presidential primaries, which led to the Obidient Movement asking H.E Peter Obi to exit the PDP which he promptly did. “Now, the Obidient Movement in Imo State is asking the peoples ‘General’ to ensure he is on the ballot in the November 2023 Imo State elections even if it means flying another party’s ticket.”
The group alleged massive irregularities before and during the primary election, “starting from the delegate list, which they claimed was manipulated and did not reflect the delegate election most of its members observed across the state and had on camera. “Some delegates that were clearly elected were not allowed to participate in the primaries by the compromised Labour Party Local Government Chairmen.”
But Acting National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, Obiora Ifoh, said the party recognised the primary conducted by Abia State governor- elect, Alex Otti, which produced Senator Achonu.
“We have submitted his name to INEC,” he said, stating that the allegations of irregularities have not been proved.
Denying the report linking him to the $1million sponsorship deal between Uzodimma and Achonu, former governor of Imo State, Ikedi Ohakim described he allegation as entirely false and unfounded, urging general public to disregard such criminal defamatory in the viral audio record
Ohakim, who made the denial on his verified Twitter (social media) handle, vowed to take necessary steps to bring those behind the video and allegations to book,
Ikedi Ohakim’s massage read; “My attention has been drawn to a viral Audio (Attached), claiming that His Excellency, Gov. Hope Uzodinma used me as a conduit to disburse $1M to Senator Athan Achonu, the LP guber nominee. This audio is false and criminally defamatory and I’m taking prompt steps to bring the known creator to book,” Ohakim said
