By: John Asiegbu
The structures of the Imo State Chapter of the Labour Party (LP) appear to have been hijacked by desperate politicians ahead of the 2023 general elections
Labour party which has become a beautiful pride since the emergence of Mr. Peter Obi as its 2023 presidential candidate seems to have been hijacked by some politicians whose sole interest is to cruise to political power by riding on Obi’s popularity next year.
This they apparently intend to achieve by unlawfully and unconstitutionally influencing the removal of the duly-elected officials of the party from zonal, LGA to the ward levels and replacing them with their loyalists ahead of the party’s governorship primary election next year.
Most of these candidates, were not members of the party two or three months earlier, having contested and lost primary elections in their various former political parties.
They were either in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) or the All Progressives Congress. (APC)
Meanwhile, the purportedly ousted party executive members have kicked against the development as they stormed the state secretariat of the party at No. 115 Wetheral Road Owerri, on Thursday to register their grievances
Addressing the 27 LGA Chairmen during an interface, the party’s state secretary, Fabian Okohchi, urged them to remain calm and wait for the arrival of the state chairman.
He promised to meet with with them on Tuesday in order to address the issue.
One of the affected LGA chairmen who spoke on condition of anonymity, accused some of the state executive members of compromising the interest of the party by selling out key party offices to politicians despite their political affiliation..
He wondered why duly elected party officials would be replaced without recourse to the party’s constitution.
He expressed fear that the party has been invaded by political hoodlums in the state.
