By MBACHU GODWIN, Abuja
Chieftain of Labour Party in Imo State and former factional gubernatorial candidate, Chief Ikechukwu Ukaegbu has described the Imo Charter of Equity as fake and deceptive, accusing Governor Hope Uzodinma of bias and insincerity.
The debate on whose senatorial zone to produce the next governor of the state in 2027 continued to rage
Imo elders council towards the twilight of Uzodinma’s first tenure in office had advocated for the charter of Equity to rotate the governorship seat amongst the three zones of Okigwe, Owerri and Orlu to avoid dominance of one zone in the political equation of the state.
Ukaegbu noted that the state Governor who mid wifed the charter of Equity document has not shown commitment to the agreement but paying lip service to it, as politicians from his Orlu zone are already indicating interest to contest for the position in 2027.
Speaking in an interview with Journalists, the Labour Party stalwart said he does not believe in the charter of Equity as the charter has never been respected since the return to democracy in 1999.
He said “Imo Charter of Equity is fake because what they are saying is not what they have in mind, if you believe in the charter of Equity show it by action, I don’t want to be roped into what I know will not work.
“The presentation of it is fake , the charter has failed in the past because Uzodinma from Orlu zone came in after 16 years of Orlu zone and it was not respected.
“There is no truth in all these , it is not today we are hearing equity, I won’t be surprised for an Orlu man to be contesting in 2027”
Ukaegbu said the Owerri zone has lost confidence in the charter of Equity arrangement which according to him was hurriedly put together to help Uzodinma secure a second tenure in office.
He reiterated the commitment of the Owerri zone in producing the next governor in 2027 despite the alleged distortion of the charter of Equity arrangement which he argued was intentionally designed to fail. He noted that his concern is how his party wins the state in 2027, adding that he is in the party to led it to victory .
On the Labour Party internal crisis he regretted that the embattled National Chairman, Bar Julius Abure contributed largely to the crisis as he allegedly gave tickets to outsiders who were not credible, thus dumping party faithful who sustained the party, adding that such attitude led to the party losing many states. “The labour party lost gubernatorial election in Imo State because of this.”
Speaking further, on the fourth coming local government election , he disclosed that his party, labour party and the opposition will boycott the election as it has no confidence in the electoral process.
