On the 17th of April 2023, Major General LKJ Ogunewe (Rtd) MFR, the Authentic Winner of the Labour Party Primaries held on April 15, 2023, at Landmark Events Center, Owerri, Imo State, issued a press statement to the people of Imo State. He greeted them with Calvary Greetings and proceeded to discuss the events that occurred during the primaries.
During the primaries, an honest mistake was made by the Election Committee when it asked Local Government Area Chairmen of LP to identify delegates from their areas. Many party chairmen who had been compromised by one of the contestants, Mr. Athan Achonu, allowed non-elected fake delegates to enter into the election hall. These said fake delegates confessed to receiving $300 dollars each to vote for Mr. Achonu. Despite the protestations of Major General LKJ Ogunewe (Rtd) MFR, these fake delegates voted, and at the end of the day, Mr. Achonu, who scored 134 votes, was declared the winner against Major General LKJ Ogunewe (Rtd) MFR’s 121 votes, which made him come second.
Major General LKJ Ogunewe (Rtd) MFR stated that the elections were manipulated and rigged when LP local government chairmen were asked to identify delegates, and many of them left the original delegates’ list and admitted fake delegates to vote. He further stated that all his 121 votes were from original LP delegates that emerged from the Ward Congresses of LP.
He maintained that if all the votes of the fake delegates who collected $300 dollars and voted for Mr. Achonu are cancelled or voided, he would automatically score the majority of the votes and emerge as the winner of the Imo State governorship primaries election. He emphasized that he had followed due process of the law by filing a petition to their Party Governorship Primaries Election Appeals Committee on these flagrant violations that occurred at the primaries, and he expected that justice would be done.
Major General LKJ Ogunewe (Rtd) MFR also urged Ndigbo to move away from party-based politics to candidate-based politics. He believes that the educational credentials, career records, integrity, credibility, and capacity of an individual should be the focus of their quest for transformational leadership. He cited Peter Obi as an example of a candidate who has set this example.
Finally, Major General LKJ Ogunewe (Rtd) MFR thanked all his supporters in LP both within the state, throughout the country, and globally. He also thanked the leadership of their great party. He made it clear to all and sundry that the LP family in Imo State gave him their mandate without vote buying to fly the Flag of the Party at the November 11, 2023, governorship elections. He promised to do everything legally possible to execute that mandate and lead from the front, ensuring their victory.
