Thursday, March 13, 2025 - Party, Imo State chapter, seems to have been split into two following an attempt by some state exco members to remove the state chairman of the party, Callistus Ihejiagwa, over alleged anti-party activities and other allegations leveled against him.
In a press statement signed by some members of the state working
committee, it was alleged that the party chairman is running the affairs of the
party as his private business, as he no longer consults with the exco members
on issues concerning the party.
According to the press statement, which was read out before journalists
by the spokesperson of the party, Bright Offurum, it was alleged that the party
chairman has been associating with the APC-led government in the state after
the defections of its two federal lawmakers to the ruling party.
Offurum further alleged that efforts made to condemn the defections of
the two lawmakers by issuing an official statement against the act were
rebuffed by the state chairman, whom they accused of romancing with the
lawmakers even after their defections.
The party spokesperson hinted that Ihejiagwa is currently in Israel on
an APC-sponsored pilgrimage.
He also said that, as a leader of one of the opposition parties in the
state, the chairman has never raised a voice to condemn some administrative
policies of the ruling party.
“We have lost the moral burden of promoting the needed opposition to the
APC-led government.
The Imo State Labour Party chairman needs to be changed, and an acting chairman
appointed pending the commencement of congress,” the statement read.
The party’s publicity secretary further accused the chairman of
administrative high-handedness, saying that he was in the habit of taking
unilateral decisions without involving party leaders and stakeholders.
He added that Ihejiagwa single-handedly changed party leaders in the
various LGAs and wards and replaced them with people not known by the party.
“There is great tension in the party now, and it must be handled
immediately by urging the state chairman to step down to avoid the
disintegration of the party.
The elected federal and state lawmakers are not happy with him, including the
major stakeholders and party faithful,” the release further read.
Responding to the attempt to remove the state chairman, Chima Igbo
Onyeisiala, the publicity secretary of the other group, described the act as an
ill-conceived attempt coming from former members of the party sacked by the
current party leadership under Ihejiagwa.
He pointed out that those behind the move
were driven by selfish interests and monetary inducements.
“We are fully aware that these individuals were sponsored by a few
leaders in the party who previously sponsored and participated in the failed
attempt to remove our national chairman, Julius Abure, the NWC, and the NEC.
By the special grace of God, they have failed again,” he stated.
Onyeisiala explained that the process of removing a state chairman is
clearly outlined in the party’s constitution and that anything outside it is
null and void.
He used the medium to enjoin party faithful and the public to disregard
what he described as a shameful display of desperation, maintaining that the
party is one in the state and remains firm under the leadership of Ihejiagwa.
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