Underground crisis rocking the Ebony state chapter of Labour Party (LP) took another turn on Weekend following the decision of the Chieftain of Party and Secretary of the party in the state Comrade Innocent Igiri to support the reelection bid of  Governor Francis Nwifuru announcing that he will soon officially join the All Progressives Congress APC with his teaming supporters

In a chat with journaliststs in Abakaliki Igiri said his decision to dump the party and support the ruling party was due to zoning of the party Governorship position to South which according to him contravene the principle of zoning as reached by our founding fathers.

“Our Governorship candidate hails from Afikpo in the south part of the state instead of north and I have told our leaders that we are making big mistake by fielding someone from the south but they kept a deaf ear” Igiri said.

“Our founding fathers had in an agreement after the creation of the state that Governorship position should be rotating with the three senatorial zones of the state which comprises Ebonyi North, Ebonyi South and Ebonyi Central”.

“Ebonyi North took the first turn from 1999 to 2007 with Dr. Sam Egwu as governor, the Central had Chief Martin Elechi from 2007 to 2015 and Sen. David Umahi had the turn of the south from 2015 to 2023”.

“Now it is in the north with Builder Francis Nwifuru as the governor, he should be allow to complete his tenure as others had done”.

“We are people born out of struggle; we are people that are known to fight for justice, equal rights and equity and fairness, and this time, it’s the resolution of the structure that is with me in Ebonyi State, whether they like it or not.”

He added that Governor Nwifuru’s achievements in peace-building, infrastructure development, and human capital advancement within his three years in office also formed another factor of him leaving the party adding that the decision was collectively reached after expanded meeting with coordinators of his political structure across the 13 local government areas of the state.

Igiri former two-term acting chairman of the party dismissed criticisms from what he described as internal political opponents, insisting that his group would not be swayed by their pressure to reconsider their stands.

He further emphasised that his political structure remains committed to justice, fairness, and equity, stressing that the endorsement reflects a collective decision.

Igiri also alleged attempts by some individuals to influence members of his structure to abandon the endorsement, saying such efforts would not succeed.

“We have endorsed Governor Nwifuru for the 2027 general elections; the resolution is for all of us, FON all the way.” He further praised the governor’s leadership style, describing him as accessible and people-orientated.

“We have a governor that listens to the people, apart from his other achievements in peacebuilding, education, human and capital development, infrastructure, among others.”

“He has ears, a governor that is reachable, and a governor that has never arrested an opposition leader. He is a governor that has value to people who are criticising his government the party will be doom and may not win any seat.

He acknowledged of internal crisis rocking the party which he said will explode very soon adding that if urgent steps are not taken to resolve the crisis before 2027 general election the party will be doom and may not win any seat.