Dr Okorondu Nwachukwu who emerged the winner of Imo North Senatorial primary of the Labour Labour Party (LP) has petitioned the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) over alleged moves to replace him.
Following the primary election conducted by the Labour Party on June, 9, 2022, Dr Okorondu Nwachukwu emerged winner and the LP flagbearer for the zone.
However, there are indications that some powers in his party are planning to conduct a fresh primary to replace him as the party`s candidate.
Consequently, an alleged withdrawal letter has emerged purportedly written by Dr Nwachukwu, which he claims to be “forged” and not authentic.
Dr. Nwachukwu has in addition to denying the said letter of withdrawal also maintained that he is still in the race and did not at any time withdraw as the senatorial candidate for Imo North Senatorial Zone.
This, the senatorial aspirant wrote in a petition dated July 13, 2022, and written by his lawyer, Emmanuel Adedeji to the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.
In the said petition captioned, ‘Re: Purported withdrawal as candidate of Labour Party for Imo North Senatorial Zone,” which Clariform has obtained, Nwachukwu expressed shock in the development.
He urged INEC to disregard the withdrawal letter from the officers of his political party, while also urging the Commission to refer the matter to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for investigation.
Notable Quotes:
The said letter reads in part, “We are solicitors to Dr. Okorondu Nwachukwu hereinafter referred to as our client and on whose instruction we write.
“It was brought to the notice of our client that Labour Party wrote a letter dated 8th July, 2022 to the commission, informing the commission of his withdrawal as the candidate of the Labour Party for Imo North Senatorial Zone, and also informing the commission of the party’s intention to conduct fresh primary election.
“Our client hereby inform the commission that he did not at any time withdraw as the candidate of the Labour Party for Imo North Senatorial Zone, and that he never wrote any letter of withdrawal nor depose to any affidavit in support of any letter of withdrawal.
“Our client was shocked when he discovered that some persons concocted plans to mislead the commission into believing that he has withdrawn as the candidate of the Labour Party for Imo North Senatorial Zone.
“Our client state unequivocally that the purported letter of withdrawal and accompanying affidavit (if any was submitted by the party to the commission) were forged.”
