The leader of the Labour Party in Imo State, Senator Athan Achonu has addressed the recent developments and as well dispelled the unnecessary speculations following the stakeholders' meeting held in Umuahia, Abia State.
Recently, certain individuals are falsely claiming that the State Chairman, Callistus Ihejiagwa, has ceased to hold his position following the meeting. The Apex leader Senator Athan Achonu in a statement made public to newsmen from his campaign council reads this, "We categorically state that these claims are without merit. At no point during the stakeholders' meeting, which Senator Achonu personally attended, was there any discussion regarding changes to the State Executive. The fact remains that no congress has been held, and until such a congress takes place, Callistus Ihejiagwa remains the duly recognized State Chairman of the Labour Party in Imo State."
It Furthermore stated that , "we remind all party members that while our National Chairman, Barrister Julius Abure, continues with his legal battles, we are hopeful for a peaceful resolution to all disputes. Our priority is to strengthen the party, not divide it. As a key stakeholder, Barrister Abure must work with the Labour Party to ensure we emerge stronger and more united. No individual, including Barrister Abure, is greater than the Labour Party. Unity is essential, and our focus is on building an indomitable force capable of transforming both our state and nation."
He said that in Imo State, they face numerous internal and external challenges. He said that its However, important to note that such challenges are not unusual in a political setting. What matters is how we resolve them. As the Igbo adage goes, "It is only a dead man whose neck cannot be adjusted." We must accomodate alternative voices, learn lessons and strive for peaceful resolutions to keep the party on a strong footing.
Under Senator Achonu’s leadership, we will not allow the enemies of the Labour Party to prevail. Any attempts to destabilize our ranks will not succeed. We call on all members of the Labour Party in Imo State to remain resolute and committed to supporting the leadership of Callistus Ihejiagwa until a congress is held, and any changes are made through our democratic processes.
For the Achonu campaign, the Abure-led national executive is like the shell of the body, while the stakeholders represent the soul—neither can exist without the other. The Labour Party must find a way to come together and ensure we achieve the Nigeria of our dreams, which only the Labour Party can guarantee.
He therefore called on all Labour Party faithful to focus on what truly matters which will in turn strengthen the Labour Party to deliver the positive change to the people.