The Labour Party (LP), which once rode a wave of massive popularity in Imo State, appears to be facing a political downturn.
A series of defections by some of its elected officials have raised concerns about the party’s survival in the state’s political firmament ahead of the 2027 Imo governorship election.
In the 2023 general elections, the Labour Party made an impressive debut by clinching key positions in Imo.
Senator Ezenwa Onyewuchi won the Owerri Zone Senate seat, while Tochukwu Okere emerged victorious in Owerri Federal Constituency.
Their triumphs dealt a significant blow to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the zone at that time.
The LP’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, also won in the state, outperforming his then rivals, APC’s Bola Ahmed Tinubu and PDP’s Atiku Abubakar.
This electoral success attracted key political players to the Labour Party, further boosting its profile and strength in Imo.
However, the tide began to turn during the 2023 governorship election, where the LP’s candidate, Senator Athan Achonu, finished a distant third.
Governor Hope Uzodimma of the APC, was declared winner of the governorship election with PDP’s Senator Samuel Anyanwu emerging the runner-up.
The loss marked the beginning of the LP’s political decline in the state.
Since the governorship election, the Labour Party has struggled to maintain its grip on its elected representatives.
Senator Ezenwa Onyewuchi, one of the party’s prominent figures, defected to the APC, reportedly to bolster his chances of running for governor in 2027.
His departure was described as a major setback for the party.
On December 4, 2023, another blow came when Tochukwu Okere, representing Owerri Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, announced his defection to the APC.
Analysts described the move as a significant indicator of the Labour Party’s dwindling fortunes in Imo.
A political analyst in State, Uche Onwukwe, said “The defection of two key figures of the party shows the Labour Party is losing its political gains from the 2023 general elections,”
“It will now struggle to position itself as a viable alternative to the APC or PDP in Imo State in 2027.”he said.
Reacting to the crisis, a party member, Fred Uche, remained optimistic.
“The LP remains the people’s choice in Imo during elections. We’ve won before, but the ruling party’s rigging machinery has often robbed us of our victories,” he told INNONEWS.
However, Hon Tochukwu Okere, was quoted to have cited the internal crisis plaguing the party as major reason for his defection to APC.
“The reason for my dumping LP for APC is simple. It is in crisis. You and I are aware of the court cases bedeviling the party. One cannot continue with such uncertainty,” he said.
At the national level, the Labour Party has been embroiled in leadership disputes and court battles, which have further weakened its cohesion.
Analysts warn that unless the party resolves its internal issues and re-strategizes, it risks political irrelevance not only in Imo State but across the nation.