The Imo Conscience Group, a political platform in Imo State, has accused the state government of sponsoring thugs and its agents to vandalise and destroy billboards, belonging to the opposition parties especially the Labour Party (LP).
Alerting the people on the latest political rascality playing out in Imo State,” the group cited the “the deliberate and brazen vandalism of the campaign billboards of the Labour Party Governorship Candidate, Senator Athan Nneji Achonu and his deputy, Hon. Tony Nwulu, by opponents, ably driven by the state government’s attack dogs who have sworn never to allow the Labour Party, establish any physical presence across the state.”
It disclosed that the most recent billboard vandalised was the one strategically located at New Owerri, and described the act as barbaric and a danger to the country’s nascent democracy.
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“Let this also serve as a wake-up call for our security agencies to take note of this ugly development and nip it in the bud.
“We remain committed to our quest to Take Back Imo, restore security of lives and property, and place our dear state on the path of growth and sustelainable development.”
The group also lampooned the Lamidi Apapa “mischief mongers”, meddling in the Labour Party affairs in Imo State.
It rubbished the purported order of a Bayelsa court that Ikechukwu Ukaegbu should replace Achonu as the LP standard bearer in the November governorship poll in the state.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Achonu was never a party to the said suit and was never mentioned in the trumpeted misrepresented judgment either. How could a person suffer injury in a case that had nothing to do with him?”
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The group said Ukaegbu and the Apapa group were spreading falsehood and playing pranks on the people’s intelligence.
It accused Apapa and Ukaegbu of working for the state government to destabilise the LP, which is favoured to oust the Uzodinma government and put a stop to the wanton destruction of life and property.
“At this point, one would start to wonder what is Apapa’s interest in Imo State,” the group wondered .
“We have Kogi and Bayelsa that would also go to polls in November.
Why is Apapa in the news in Imo State?
“This man was rejected by Labour Party at Abuja Tribunal Court, even booed out. He claims that he is the owner of Labour. Which labour; labour room or labour trade union? Is it not high time Labour Party at the central squared things out with this marauder. Why choose Imo State for this spoiler’s job?”
Meanwhile, in a statement, Barr. Callistus Iheagwu, the Labour Party Chairma in Imo State rejected Ukaegbu and insisted that Achonu remained th party’s candidate.
The statement read in part: “Apparently, Chief Ukaegbu Ikechukwu Joseph mischievously misinterpreted the judgment of the said Federal High Court delivered on the 23 day of June, 2023 by His Lordship, Hon. Justice B.O. Quadri in Suit No. FHC/OW/CS/28/2023. The Federal High Court in its Judgment categorically held that from the totality of all the considered argument and authorities ‘”the plaintiff Sir Basil Maduka does not fall within the definition of an aspirant as it never participated in the process leading to the primary election nor took part in the primary election of the 1 Defendant LP and as such lacks the locus standi to institute this action as such this Court lacks the requisite jurisdiction to entertain and determine this suit same being incompetent. Accordingly this suit is hereby dismissed.’
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“Today again, the Court of Appeal sitting in Owerri reemphasided the implication of lack of jurisdiction in a Motion for leave to appeal as an interested party filed by our dear Governorship candidate Sen. Athan Achonu.
“The Court of Appeal held that the Motion was filed out of time hence it lacked jurisdiction just like the Federal High held above that it lacked jurisdiction. To our greatest surprise Chief Ukaegbu Ikechukwu Joseph and his co-dreamers have flooded the social media with yet another propaganda and falsehood that Court of Appeal has declared him the candidate of Labour Party, in a matter he was neither the Plaintiff nor Appellant.
“There is no truth in such claim, by Chief Ukaegbu Ikechukwu Joseph, no court either Federal High Court or Court of Appeal ever declared him LP candidate. I most humbly urge the general public to please disregard the falsehood, propaganda, dirty politics and misrepresentation of Court by Chief Ukaegbu.”
The Party chsirmandeclar Ed c that Ukaegbu is not the LO flag bearer in Imo.
He said, “Chief Ukaegbu Ikechukwu Joseph is not the candidate of our party and no court today or previously ever declared him our party’s candidate.
For the avoidance of doubt Distinguished Sen. Athan Achonu is and remains the valid governorship candidate of our great Party.”