By VICTOR NWACHUKWU

Members of the State Working Committee (SWC) of the Labour Party (LP) in Imo have rejected their suspension by the party?s embattled state Chairman, Mr Callistus Ihejiagwa.

The SWC members said this while addressing newsmen in Owerri, on Sunday.

Addressing newsmen, the party?s Legal Adviser, Mr Emeka Ihejirika, stated that ?instead of addressing the serious allegations leveled against him, Ihejiagwa hastily convened a meeting of loyalists to orchestrate a distraction from the core issues at hand.?

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 13 members of the SWC had, last week, passed a Vote of No Confidence on Ihejiagwa, citing high-handed leadership, financial mismanagement, unconstitutional actions, and betrayal of the party.

On Saturday, March 15, Ihejiagwa announced the suspension of the SWC members from the party.

Ihejirika, therefore, urged Ihejiagwa to address the allegations and avoid resorting to suspending members of the SWC in an attempt to silence opposition within the party.

?He runs the party like a personal empire by sidelining key officials and making unilateral decisions without consultation; refusing to account for party funds and engaging in financial mismanagement.

?LP stakeholders from Owerri Zone have condemned Ihejiagwa?s actions, describing them as an abuse of power and a threat to the integrity of the party.

?At a zonal meeting attended by notable leaders of our great party, the leaders expressed outrage over Ihejiagwa?s leadership style, anti-party activities, and lack of financial transparency.

?Present at the meeting were Mr Mathew Nwogu, the Member representing Aboh Mbaise/Ngor Okpala in the House of Representatives; Mr Clinton Amadi, the Member representing Owerri Municipal in the Imo State House of Assembly,? he said.

Ihejirika said that the zone called for a thorough review of Ihejiagwa?s actions and financial dealings, stating that his leadership had become detrimental to the party?s growth in Imo State.

They further mandated all those ?unconstitutionally removed by the chairman? to resume their rightful positions, emphasising that Ihejiagwa?s unilateral actions had no constitutional backing. (NAN)

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