Julius Abure faction of the National Leadership of the Labour Party, has claimed that only Senator Athan Achonu, who was nominated by the faction, is the only governorship candidate recognised to fly the party’s flag in the November 11 governorship election in Imo State.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, the Spokesperson for the LP’s Presidential Campaign Council, Tanko Yunusa, said Achonu remains the party’s flagbearer in the state.
He urged the party’s supporters to be wary of any gimmick from an individual or group telling them otherwise.
Yunusa, who claimed that Achonu has been cleared by the National Executive Council of the party, cautioned LP’s supporters against opposing antics.
He claimed that Achonu’s “nomination has since been adopted by the Independent National Electoral Commission and the courts in the land, including the Supreme Court, have given recognition to Senator Achonu’s candidacy.”
“Therefore, the party does not waver in its candidate and has enjoined all electorates in Imo State to stand with the party and dismiss any other candidate paraded as the candidate of the party.”
However, Yunusa claimed that the National Working Committee of the party has not authorized any individual or group to coordinate members ahead of the election while urging all members of the Obidient family to remain loyal and focus on the candidature of Achonu.
It would be recalled that a court judgement had earlier stopped the Abure-led faction of the party from parading Achonu as the candidate of the party after nullifying all the candidates nominated by the faction, in Imo, Kogi and Bayelsa states.
The court recognised the candidates nominated by the Lamidi Apapa faction as the authentic candidates to represent the party in the coming elections in the three states.
However, Yunusa said, “The directive by our principal on who the Obedient Family and lovers of democracy, particularly in Imo State, must rally behind. The directive is very clear and unambiguous.
“The Obedient Brand is the copyright property of our principal, Peter Obi. The youth who believe in his style of leadership and politics with his messages, which have resonated with the Nigerian youth, in this case, especially with Imo youth, have now been directed to rally behind Senator Athan Achonu.
“However, we are not unmindful of attempts by some politicians to poach into the obedient family and pursue an identity theft agenda. We are also aware that some political parties are making efforts to misdirect some of our family members.
“Two other parties that are contesting the election, particularly the PDP and APC, are guilty as charged. We are aware that the intimidating activities of the Obidients all over have instilled fear in them, and the thought of confronting these followers of Peter Obi in the November 11 election has thrown spanners into their midst.
“We are also not unmindful of the huge resources being deployed by the state government as well as the 4,000 fake job promises being offered to our members to poach them.
“As laughable as these offers and promises are, the Imo youths are much more intelligent and are not gullible.
“They can’t compromise their future because of the antics of some failed politicians who have exploited Imo State and have encouraged insecurity for their selfish interests.
“A new Imo is possible again. A state where peace and security shall be the paramount priorities of the government; a state where the youth will be assured of their future; and no fake political promises will be given.
“A state where the resources of the state will be used purely for the development of the state and not for the personal use of a few.”
