By CHARLES IWUOHA

A former House of Representatives candidate in 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 News Express.

He was the LP candidate for Ihiala Federal Constituency in the 2023 general elections.

Reacting to rumours in the social media that he was part of a press conference called by the former 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Abure, where he announced that the party?s automatic ticket for Peter Obi and Governor Alex Otti of Abia State had been withdrawn, Okonkwo noted that the rumour was a mere ?falsehood?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.?

In his statement, Okonkwo said, ?My attention has been drawn to a malicious propaganda and campaign of calumny targeted at my person by certain political interest 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, the said news report 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 records, 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 has the record of those they invited.

According to Okonkwo, ?the person being circled in the screenshot is NOT Me! I have never worn that type of cloth neither am I as fat as the man in the screenshot picture. Everyone that knows me in person will already know that I am not the person in the said event.

?For the avoidance of doubt, I was in Kaduna State attending to my private business on Monday 9, 2024 when the said press conference held in Abuja.

Speaking on his relationship with Peter Obi, Okonkwo said that he had been friends with Peter Obi long before the 2023 elections. He noted that Peter Obi remains 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- Really, what is Labour Party without Okute Ndigbo?

?While reiterating his membership of the LP, Okonkwo, Let me assure the people of Ihiala Federal Constituency, Ndi Anambra and indeed all lovers of the Labour Party that I remain a staunch member, and I remain an unrepentant supporter of my brother and friend Mr. Peter Obi.?

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