A former governorship aspirant under the Labour Party in Imo State, Ike Ibe, has maintained he is still a member of the party despite losing the bid to clinch the gubernatorial ticket during the primaries in the state.
He regretted the factionalisation of the Labour Party at the national level, attributing the unhealthy development to the outcome of gubernatorial primaries held in Imo State.
Baring his mind on Wednesday in a telephone interview with Newspot, Ibe said the Labour Party took part in the just-concluded gubernatorial poll under a factionalized house, as a result of the governorship candidate, Athan Achonu to mend fences with co-contestants who dragged him to court over the outcome of the primary election.
He said, “There would always be disagreements in political parties, it is not just in the Labour Party.
“I am one of the major members of the Labour Party and I contested for the gubernatorial seat ticket during the concluded primaries and won the primaries.
“But unfortunately, the Labour Party became factionalized and that is why many factions went to court, to ask for a determination of who is the legitimate candidate of the party.
“There are so many cases including mine. I am a plaintiff in one of the court cases. The case that involved me ended at a federal high court about two weeks ago where we lost.
“We had a lot of grounds of appeal. It is left to us whether to file an appeal or not. But as it stands now, I have not left the Labour Party.
“I will not leave the Labour Party because I am one of the major stakeholders of the party. I had fought for this party in the state and nationally.
“There was a time when I was the only known gubernatorial aspirant for the party for the national assembly and presidential elections in Imo State.
“And so, I have a lot of stakes in the Labour Party. As I speak, I am still a member of the Labour Party party, and I also support my party to succeed.
Newspot recalls that the governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Athan Achonu emerged in third place after he was roundly beaten by the All Progressives Congress(APC) standard bearer, Hope Uzodinma.
Mr Uzodinma polled the highest number of votes cast to clinch back the state governorship seat, upon the conclusion of voting and collation of results of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
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