Ex-LP deputy chair declares self acting national chairman

A former deputy chair (South) of the Labour Party (LP), Callistus Okafor, has declared himself as the new chairman of the party.

Okafor addressing a press conference in Abuja on Friday said his declaration was based on a 2018 consent judgment of the federal high court which he claimed has not been followed.

Back then in 2018, there was a leadership battle involving a former chair of LP, the late Abdulkadir Salam, and a group led by Salisu Mohammed, who had declared himself the national caretaker chair of the party.

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The judge who handled the dispute, Gabriel Kolawole, in his judgement, however, ruled that all the parties should convene an “inclusive” national convention.

Okafor during Friday’s press conference said the convention ordered by judge Kolawole was not obeyed and it was on that “faulty structure” Julius Abure became the national chairman of LP and as such, he is taking over the party.

“The owner of the house has taken the house. When I mean owner, I am not contesting LP leadership with the NLC, no,” he said.

“I’m talking about the process. The midwifing of this process (fresh convention).

“The 2014 convention is the right avenue to midwife it. For that reason, Callistus Okafor is now the acting chairman of LP.

“Sequel to the above development, members of the 2014 National Working Committee who are beneficiaries of the consent judgment have agreed to midwife an all-inclusive and expansive convention in compliance with the Consent Judgment delivered by Hon Justice G.O. Kolawole, and further agree to within six months embark on a purposeful reconciliation of all aggrieved members and groups to achieve a united, focused Labour Party that will redefine political leadership in Nigeria’s quest for a better nation.”

According to Okafor, his intervention is “a pivotal resolution of the long drawn legal battle for the soul of the party”.