The chairman of the Labour Party in Imo State, Calistus Ihejiagwa, has said that the party would not participate in the forthcoming September 21 local government election in the state.
Ihejiagwa stated this during the party’s stakeholders meeting in Owerri, the Imo State capital over the weekend.
He said, “We cannot participate in any election organized by the All Progressive Congress’ State Independent Electoral Commission because it will not be fair, credible and transparent.
“It would be a waste of resources and time. The Imo State Independent Electoral Commission is an agency of the government and we do not trust that it will conduct an election that could be adjudged free and fair.”
He said the LP is focusing on the outcome of the Supreme Court on the actual winner of the November 11, 2023 governorship election, adding, “And we are hopeful that the days of Governor Hope Uzodimma in the Douglas House are numbered.
“Uzodinma is sitting on a stolen mandate because the LP won that election.”
He charged the party stakeholders to be committed to the ideals of the party and do their best to support the revalidation and membership drive across the 27 local government areas of the state, adding that the party is the only hope the citizens have to vote out economic hardship brought in by the APC leadership.
He informed the stakeholders that the “LP is healthy and stable. It’s the only strong opposition party in Imo State that is organized and has the people on her side.”
He added, “The LP is the people’s party, loved by the people and closer to the people. There’s no crisis in the party as against speculations in some quarters.
“To make the party strong, we have amended the constitution. We have also customized the membership card that each local government has a unique customized card for identification.”
In his remarks, the National Youth Leader of the party, Prince Kennedy Ahanotu, who represented the National Chairman, Barr. Julius Abure, called on the stakeholders and party faithful to continue to support the party, stressing that Nigerians are looking up to the party to save the country from the precipice of collapse and economic woes caused by the ruling party.
He said the LP is the only institutional party, whose ownership lies with the people, insisting that the party is not in crisis with the Nigeria Labour Congress.