A former House of Representatives candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in Anambra State, Prince Hez Okonkwo has said that he remains a member of the party and staunch supporter of Mr. Peter Obi.
The party chieftain made the declaration on Thursday through a statement he personally signed and made available to DAILY POST.
He was the LP candidate for Ihiala Federal Constituency in the 2023 general elections.
Reacting to rumours on social media that he was part of a press conference called by the embattled national chairman of the LP, Mr Julius Abure where he announced that the party’s automatic ticket for Peter Obi and Governor Alex Otti of Abia State had been withdrawn, Okonkwo noted that the rumour was a mere “falsehood” being propagated by “faceless individuals.”
He said, “My attention has been drawn to a malicious propaganda and campaign of calumny targeted at my person by certain political interests in Anambra State.
“In their latest effort to paint me black and create a bogus image for my person, a screenshot of Channels Television news aired on Monday September 9, 2024 where the former Chairman of the Labour Party, Mr. Julius Abure addressed a press conference in Abuja, is being circulated mainly on WhatsApp platforms, purporting that I was in the press conference.
“Ordinarily I would ignore the shenanigans of detractors, but for the record, it is important that I make it clear here and now that I, Prince Sir Hez Okonkwo, Ochiagha Lilu, has nothing to do with the said press conference.
“I was neither invited nor took part in such frivolity. I am sure that the organisers of the press conference have the record of those they invited.”
He added that he was in Kaduna State attending to his private business on Monday 9, 2024 when the said press conference was held in Abuja.
Speaking on his relationship with Peter Obi, Okonkwo said that he had been friends with Obi long before the 2023 elections.
He noted that Peter Obi remained the face of the Labour Party in Nigeria.
He said, “I am not oblivious of the fact that some persons created this falsehood to create a doubt between me and my dear brother and friend, His Excellency, Mr. Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general elections.
“It is, However, important that these faceless individuals realise that my friendship with Peter Obi predates the Labour Party.
“It should be noted without any fear of contradiction that, aside being my brother and friend, Peter Obi is someone I totally align with politically, and that is why I joined other patriotic Anambrarians to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to join the Labour Party in the buildup to the 2023 general elections.
“Also, let me make it clear that it is illogical for anyone to insinuate that I would join anyone or group to fight Peter Obi in the Labour Party- what is Labour Party without Okute Ndigbo?”
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