The Labour Party (LP) is having some big problems. Callistus Okafor, who used to be the Deputy National Chairman, now says he is the National Chairman.
In Abuja, Okafor spoke to the journalists. He says a court agreed with him back in 2018, but nobody listened to him. He also said that there was a fight for who should be the leader between the old chairman, Abdulkadir Salam, and another person named Salisu Mohammed who also claimed to be the leader.
A judge named Gabriel Kolawole said that both of their conventions (big meetings) were not right. Okafor says because they didn’t follow the court’s order, Julius Abure is now the leader, but on shaky ground.
Okafor said he and some other people who were part of the leadership back then should be in charge because of that 2018 court decision. He believes he is the real leader now.
He added, “The true owner of the house has taken back the house. I’m not fighting the Labour Party leadership with the NLC, no. I’m talking about doing things the right way.”
He also said, “The 2014 convention is how we should do things. That’s why I, Callistus Okafor, am now the acting chairman of the Labour Party.
“Because of this, the members from the 2014 committee that the court said is right, have agreed to make a new, fair big meeting. We will work in the next six months to bring all unhappy members together for a strong Labour Party that can help Nigeria become better.”
He believes his move will help solve the long fight about who should lead the party.
But the Party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, says Okafor’s claims are not true.
He said, “There are people who want to break our party as they plan for 2027.”
“Julius Abure is the real National Chairman of our party. Many court decisions support this. We will not let people who are trying to confuse us win.”