2023: INEC affirms Nkwegu as Ebonyi LP guber candidate amidst controversy
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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reportedly acknowledged Mr. Edward Nkwegu as the candidate of the Labour Party (LP) for the 2023 governorship election in Ebonyi State.
It could be recalled that in an SOS addressed to the party’s presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Gregory Onwubuasi Obi, the LP House of Representatives Aspirant for Ezza North-Ishielu Federal Constituency, Dr. Peter Okey narrated to News Band how the party shot itself in the foot in the matter involving Arc. Edward Nkwegu (aka EDON).
According to him, there are two faction of Labour Party chairmen; the first chairman that conducted the primaries was replaced after just one month of his tenure in office with another chairman.
The replaced party chairman happened to be the Ebonyi State gubernatorial place holder but after he was replaced, he refused to withdraw his position as the place holder for the candidate.
Eventually, the party conducted another primary and Arc. Nkwegu emerged the winner throwing up a whole new set of gamut in the party’s hierarchy.
He expressed worries over duplications of candidates in one position that will cause division and court cases in near future.
He explained: “For the governorship, two major contenders are Engr. Fidelis Nwankwo and Arc. Edward Nkwegu.
“Fidelis came from PDP while Edward came from APC. This issue has divided the party in Ebonyi into 2 factions, each with their own loyalists.”
In another development, the federal High court sitting in Abakaliki capital of Ebonyi State, on August 3, declared the primary election that produced Nkwegu as the gubernatorial candidate null and void.
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In a latest development, however, the party’s presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, the governorship candidate — Nkwegu, and Mr James Nnachi, speaking to journalists, said INEC has acknowledged Nkwegu as the authentic governorship candidate of the party.
Nnachi called on the members of the Labour Party in the state not to panic, saying:
“On the recent Federal High Court Judgement, we, therefore, call on supporters of OBI/EDON 2023, and entire Labour Party members in Ebonyi State not to be discouraged as the party and INEC has acknowledged the outcome of the primaries and the candidature of Arc. Nkwegu.
“It is part of politics,” he added.
