Athan Achonu Opposes Ihedioha’s Plans To Join LP, Says Saboteur Comment Still Fresh, Likely To Destroy Party

Senator Athan Achonu, the Labour Party’s governorship candidate in the most recent Imo state election, is said to have rejected the defection plan of resigned former Peoples Democratic Party chieftain Rt Hon Emeka Ihedioha.

According to information obtained by this newspaper, the Senator made his position known over the weekend when Abia State Governor Alex Oti drew his attention to the move.

Rt Hon Emeka Ihedioha made an offer to join the Labour Party a few days after resigning from the Peoples Democratic Party, ostensibly to oversee the party’s upcoming Ward, LGA, State, and National congresses.

According to an insider, Ihedioha paid an unscheduled visit to Abia State Governor Alex Oti over the weekend, ahead of his rumoured defection.

Unfortunately, the source revealed that Abia state Governor Oti was concerned that Ihedioha had not informed or visited Imo state’s Labour Party Governorship candidate in the 2023 election, Senator Athan Achonu, since his resignation, nor had he invited him to accompany him on the visit.

He maintained that Governor Oti made it abundantly clear that because the Labour Party values members’ dedication and contributions to party development, dissolving the party structure in Imo state because of new entrants would be unjust.

According to the source, in order to ensure that his meeting with Ihedioha was not misinterpreted, Governor Oti called Senator Achonu and asked for his opinion on Ihedioha’s proposed defection.

Unfortunately, the source revealed that Senator Achonu vehemently rejected Ihedioha’s move to join the party, citing his overbearing influence in any party to which he belongs, as well as his alleged arrogance to leaders, adding that his comment in faraway Ghana describing anyone who voted for Peter Obi in the presidential election as a saboteur remains fresh and capable of destroying the party’s image.

Meanwhile, Senator Achonu allegedly told the Labour Party’s Ward and Local Government Exco in Imo state not to be concerned about their positions, assuring them that no newcomer would ever unseat them.

Achonu was quoted as saying, “I am a one-armed General who defeated a retired General with one arm; the issue of Ihedioha causing havoc in our party cannot be tolerated.” We will do everything in our power to disgrace them. The Labour Party is not like the PDP, in which one person claimed to own everything before being pursued. This time, we will deal with them squarely as the event unfolds.”

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