The Labour Party in Imo State, Nigeria, has been thrown into further turmoil after two factions of the party produced different governorship flag bearers in parallel primary elections held over the weekend. Ikechukwu Ukaegbu emerged as the winner of an affirmative election, where one of the aspirants, Ihechi Ike, stepped down for him.

The National Vice Chairman of the party, North East, Mohammed Ibrahim Alkali, announced him the winner and handed him the flag of the party. Alkali stated that the election was conducted following due process and met all legal requirements. The National Youth Leader of the party, Anselem Iragbe, affirmed that the election was legal.

Meanwhile, the Julius Abure-led faction conducted its own primary election on Saturday, where Senator Athan Achonu emerged with 134 votes, defeating his closest rival, Lincoln Ugunewe, who polled 125 votes. Other results from the election as announced by the returning officer, Dr. Alex Otti, include: Martins Agbaso, 13 votes; Mrs Ndidi, 1 vote; David Mbamara, 5 votes; Charles Agomuo, 1 vote; Kelechi Nwagwu, 9 votes; and Chinedu Amadi, 4 votes.

However, Ike gave reasons for stepping down for Ukaegbu, stating that he had entered Imo State and saw that the State needed the Labour Party and that they had come to cleanse the charade that had been going on in the Southeast. Ukaegbu vowed in his acceptance speech that he would never surrender his ticket to anybody and promised to build Imo State of their dreams.

The National Youth Leader of the party, Anselem Iragbe, further stated that the Julius Abure-led faction was not legally bound to conduct a primary election due to an FCT High Court restraining order on Julius Abure, the National Chairman, his treasurer, and the organizing secretary, asking them to stop parading themselves as the officials of the Labour Party.