Former Deputy Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Callistus
Okafor, shocked the public when he
approached the Supreme Court and requested
to be recognized as the legitimate chairman of the party. Speaking to
journalists, Okafor dismissed the claims of both Julius Abure and Lamidi Apapa,
referring to them as “fake” chairmen.
Okafor argued that Apapa’s emergence as the acting
chairperson was illegal, as it would have been more acceptable if there hadn’t
been a consent judgment. Furthermore, he deemed Abure’s chairmanship as illegal
due to the consent judgment in question.
“I am the only acting national chairman of the Labour
Party. Every other person parading himself as such is fake. Lamidi Apapa and
Abure are both fake,” Okafor stated firmly. He continued, “Let
everybody know that I have approached the Supreme Court of Nigeria on Thursday,
May 18 and prayed for the apex court to declare Abure’s LP chairmanship claims
illegal.”
Okafor highlighted to the court that according to the party’s
constitution, the acting secretary of the LP cannot become the Chairman. He
further requested the Supreme Court to nullify everything Abure had done as the
LP chairman, citing an illegal convention and primaries organized by Abure, who
lacked the legal authority to do so.
“I have also asked the court to recognize my party’s
membership list because the list is with me and can be verified,” Okafor
added.
The Labour Party, which gained prominence as the third
political force in the run-up to the 2023 elections after former Anambra State
governor Peter Obi secured the presidential ticket, found itself entangled in a
leadership crisis. The turmoil began when Apapa, the deputy national chairman
of the party (South), proclaimed himself the acting national chairman following
the court’s removal of Julius Abure from the position.
In April, a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) high court issued
an order restraining Abure from assuming the role of the LP’s national
chairman. The LP had announced the suspension of Apapa and several other party
officials, including the national legal adviser Akingbade, national financial
secretary Gbenga Daramola, national youth leader Anselem Eragbe, and national
publicity secretary Abayomi Arabambi, for alleged “anti-party
activities.”
Meanwhile, party leaders, including Peter Obi, maintained
that there was no crisis within the party and affirmed that Abure remained the
legitimate chairman.
