Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha’s anticipated move to the Labour Party has raised questions about the fate of Senator Athan Achonu, the party’s governorship candidate in the last governorship election, and current party officials in the State.
INNONEWS observed that Achonu’s control over the party’s structure in Imo State may be challenged by Ihedioha’s entry, as the former governor is expected to bring his followers into the party.
However, there are arguments from Achonu’s camp who contend that Ihedioha is joining a ready-made party, which he never contributed to its growth and development.
Some party sources say Achonu, who has been instrumental in building the party’s structure in Imo State since its formation, may not be willing to relinquish control of the party structure to Ihedioha, who choose to switch over to LP, after he was schemed out of the PDP in the State by Senator Samuel Anyanwu.
They further contend that Achonu may also be eyeing the Imo governorship seat again after a failed governorship bid in 2023, and thus may not be disposed to concede the party to a “new comer” or “Johnny just come’ .politician like Ihedioha.
Achonu had last week grudgingly accepted the judgement of the Supreme Court, which upheld the victory of Governor Hope Uzodimma of the APC, as the winner of the November 11, 2023, governorship election.
However, fresh and emerging dynamics in the party at the national level may change a lot against Achonu and the existing party exco in the State.
The removal of the national Chairman, Mr. Julius Abure, who was replaced with a former Minister of Finance, Nenadi Usman, as caretaker committee chairman, has also raised concerns about Achonu’s future and the fate of the party exco in the State.
The Callistus Ihejiagwa-led state exco is believed to be an offspring of the Abure national exco..
Before the sudden turn of events in the party in Imo, the State exco had sounded receptive to the idea of Ihedioha joining the party some months ago.
In May, 2024, in a statement signed by the party chairman and Paul Udechukwu, the party stated “Senator Athan Achonu and Rt Hon Ihedioha are democrats, seasoned politicians and long time friends….We have no doubt that they will not have any problems being in the same party”…..part of the statement stated.
Five months after that statement, the situation and dynamics in the party are no longer the same which may now force the State exco to be wary of Ihedioha’s move.
With Ihedioha aligning strongly with Abia State Governor, Alex Otti and the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, having gotten their nod to join the party, there are strong indications that the new caretaker committee, backed by Obi and Otti, will favour Ihedioha and his group when they eventually come over to the party soon.
There are fears that the new national party caretaker leadership may sweep away Achonu’s structure at the state level to make way for Ihedioha’s men to take over via party Congress.
INNONEWS was told that Ihedioha and his camp are banking on dominating the party structure in the State from the wards to the state levels, a move geared towards ensuring that he picks the party’s governorship ticket in 2027.
This development has created uncertainty within the party with some members expressing concerns about Achonu’s ability to maintain control if Ihedioha eventually joins their fold.
Ihedioha is expected to formally join the Labour any moment from now.