Ahead of Imo LP Congresses: Stakeholders Demand Zoning Of Chairmanship To Orlu Zone

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Tensions are mounting within the Labour Party (LP) in Imo State ahead of its forthcoming State congresses, as key stakeholders push for the zoning of the party’s State chairmanship position to Orlu Zone.

The demand follows growing concerns over what party insiders describe as an attempt to retain the chairmanship in Owerri Zone, a move they warn could undermine the party’s prospects in the 2027 governorship election.

Speaking anonymously, several stakeholders cautioned that allowing Owerri Zone to continue holding the chairmanship position may disrupt the delicate balance of power needed for electoral success.

They noted that the current caretaker leadership under Mazi Excel Ochiama is already led from Owerri Zone, while many other political parties in the State have reportedly zoned their governorship tickets to the same zone.

According to them, such an arrangement risks alienating other zones and weakening the Labour Party’s appeal across the State.

“The idea of retaining the chairmanship in Owerri Zone could spell doom for the party’s chances in 2027,” a stakeholder from Okigwe zone warned.

They insisted that, in the interest of equity and political strategy, the chairmanship should be zoned to Orlu Zone, aligning with prevailing zoning patterns across other parties in the State.

Fears were further expressed that failure to adopt a balanced zoning formula could erode public confidence, discourage potential aspirants, and ultimately jeopardize the party’s electoral fortunes.

For clarity, the Labour Party stakeholders maintained that it would be of great interest of the party to allow either Owerri or Okigwe zones to produce the party’s flag bearer for the 2027 Imo guber context.

Adding that Owerri zone cannot hold the chairmanship of the party and still file to produce the governorship candidate.

To them, it will not only be an aberration, but a rascality of the highest order.

The stakeholders also called on the party’s National Caretaker Committee to intervene and ensure that the outcome of the State congress reflects fairness and inclusivity.

They argued that zoning the chairmanship to Orlu would create room for the governorship ticket to be ceded to either Owerri or Okigwe zones, thereby strengthening the party’s overall chances in the 2027 general elections.