A former House of Representatives candidate of the Labour Party in Anambra State, Prince Hez Okonkwo, has reaffirmed his loyalty to the party and its presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
Okonkwo, who was the LP candidate for Ihiala Federal Constituency in the 2023 general elections, made this declaration in a statement personally signed and released to Daily Post on Thursday.
He was reacting to rumors circulating on social media that he participated in a press conference organized by the embattled national chairman of the LP, Julius Abure, where Abure announced the withdrawal of the party’s automatic ticket for Peter Obi and Governor Alex Otti of Abia State. Okonkwo described this rumor as a “falsehood” propagated by “faceless individuals.”
Okonkwo clarified, “My attention has been drawn to a malicious propaganda and campaign of calumny targeted at my person by certain political interests in Anambra State… I was neither invited nor took part in such frivolity.”
He further stated that he was in Kaduna State attending to his private business on Monday, September 9, 2024, when the press conference took place in Abuja.
Regarding his relationship with Peter Obi, Okonkwo emphasized that their friendship predates the Labour Party.
“It should be noted without any fear of contradiction that, aside from being my brother and friend, Peter Obi is someone I totally align with politically,” he said. Okonkwo also highlighted that he joined the Labour Party due to his alignment with Obi’s politics and values.
Okonkwo concluded, “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?”
