In a dramatic turn of events, factional National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Callistus Okafor, has announced his resignation from the party, citing deep-seated internal crises and what he described as the disappointing leadership of the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, Okafor said the decision to exit the party was reached after extensive consultations with members of his faction’s National Working Committee and National Executive Council.
“My team and I have carefully assessed the state of the Labour Party, especially the leadership tussles that have plagued it for seven years. We have decided that we can no longer continue in a party consumed by crisis,” Okafor said.
He declared that approximately five million supporters aligned with his faction would be leaving the party with him, as they move to a new platform — Team Wazobia Nigeria, a socio-political and non-partisan movement.
“I hereby stand today to announce to Nigerians and all the Labour Party faithful under my faction that we are pulling out as a team,” he stated.
Okafor directly blamed Peter Obi for failing to intervene in the longstanding internal conflict, arguing that the former Anambra State governor’s inability to manage the party’s internal affairs raises doubts about his capacity to lead a country as complex as Nigeria.
“This crisis has reached a point where it’s no longer healthy. Peter Obi’s refusal to address the issues in the Labour Party speaks volumes about his leadership ability,” he concluded.
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