OWERRI, Nigeria – Achonu Athan, a former senator, has emerged as the flag-bearer for the Labour Party in the keenly contested Imo State Governorship primary held on Saturday, April 15, 2023 in Owerri, the capital of Imo State.
Achonu won the primary with 134 votes while his closest rival, retired Major General Jack Ogunewe secured 121 votes.
Achonu previously served as a senator representing Imo North for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before being removed by the appeal court in 2015, with Benjamin Uwajumogu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) taking his seat.
Alex Otti, the Abia State governor-elect, and Valentine Ozigbo, a 2021 Anambra Governorship Candidate, along with several other stalwarts of the Labour Party, conducted the primary, “ensuring a free, fair, and transparent process”, according to a statement from the Imo State Chapter of the party.
Other candidates who participated in the race included Dr. Chinedu Amadi, Capt. Mbamara, Ehirim T. Justice, Hon. Ibe Ike C, Chief Martin Agbaso, Rt. Hon. Nwagwu Kelechi, Dr Sam Amadi, AIG Ugomuoh, and Mrs. Ndidi Anike.
As the chairman of the Labour Party primary committee, Dr Alex Otti gave opening remarks, expressing satisfaction with the peaceful conduct of the party delegates and the aspirants.
In his speech, Otti praised the candidates, stating, “All the aspirants are well-equipped both by character, principles, and achievements, to pilot the affairs of Imo State.”
An esteemed panel chaired by Otti oversaw the primary election including Mr Valentine Ozigbo who served as the secretary of the Imo State Labour Party Governorship Primary Election; Senator Ezenwa Onyewuchi; Hon. Senator Darlington Nwokeocha; Chief Clement Ojukwu, the national organising secretary of Labour Party; Prof Awuzie Ukachukwu, the Labour Party State Chairman for Imo State; Chief Agumba Nwigbo Innocent Okeke, the Southeast national vice chairman for Labour Party; and Hon. Dennis Agbo, a member-elect, Federal House of Representatives.
With his victory, Senator Achonu Athan will represent the party at the November 11, 2023 gubernatorial elections, where he will face off with incumbent governor Hope Uzodinma of the APC and Senator Samuel Anyanwu of the PDP.
