Another claimant to LP chair dismisses Otti’s stakeholders’ meeting

Party will clinch Lagos in 2027, Rhodes-Vivour vows

As Labour Party (LP) moves closer to the end of its internal crisis, another claimant to the National Chairmanship, Callistus Okafor, has dismissed the stakeholders’ meeting convened by Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, describing it as a mere jamboree.

This was as the 2023 LP governorship candidate in Lagos State, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, expressed optimism that the party would not only win but take over power in Lagos in 2027.

Okafor explained that Nigerians should know that the meeting that produced Esther Usman as the interim LP national chairman was unconstitutional and did not serve any purpose.

He said: “We want to bring to the notice of the general public that the jamboree gathering in Umuahia, Abia State, is unconstitutional and not known to any organisation of the party.

“Article 11 of the 2009 Constitution, which is the only constitution known to the party, according to the consent judgment delivered by G. O. Kolawole on March 20, 2018, categorically states the four organisations of the party: ward, local government, state and national.

“Otti and Peter Obi do not have the constitutional authority to convene any meeting of the party. We challenge Otti to produce the official letter addressed to him from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the subject.”

RHODES-VIVOUR made the declaration while fielding questions from newsmen in Umuahia, where he attended the extended stakeholders’ meeting of the party.

According to him, the party has been made more formidable to take over Lagos, adding that it has been strategising and consolidating on its gains since its impressive outing in Lagos during the 2023 polls, where it swept the former Nigerian capital during the presidential poll.

The former governorship flag-bearer expressed satisfaction over the outcome of the stakeholders’ meeting.

He said, “LP is now well structured, not just to win but to take power in 2027. We have come to Umuahia to bring everybody on the same page. We are set for new victories in 2027.

“I believe the party will win Lagos more convincingly in 2027. Since after the 2023 elections, work has not stopped; we have not gone quiet. Every day, we are getting stronger and stronger. So, we are not just going to win but stand up and take power.”

Rhodes-Vivour also accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of maladministration, saying its abysmal performance made it much easier for LP to sweep both Lagos and the country in 2027.

He said the excruciating economic hardship and growing hunger in the land were clear testimonials of the ineptitude of the ruling party at the centre.