‘Owner of the House Has Taken Over’ — Callistus Okafor Declares Self Acting National Chairman of LP

Callistus Okafor, the former deputy chair (south) of the Labour Party (LP), announced on Friday that he has taken control of the party, citing a 2018 federal high court consent judgment that he claims has been ignored.

Okafor’s declaration references a past leadership conflict between the late Abdulkadir Salam, a former LP chair, and a faction led by Salisu Mohammed, who had declared himself the national caretaker chair. In the 2018 consent judgment, Judge Gabriel Kolawole mandated an “inclusive” national convention, which Okafor asserts was never convened.

During a press conference in Abuja, Okafor contended that Julius Abure’s rise to national chair was based on a “faulty structure” due to the ignored court order. Okafor, who served on the national working committee (NWC) with Salam, stated that he and his group are rightful “beneficiaries” of the court’s judgment.

“The owner of the house has taken the house. When I say owner, I am not contesting Labour Party leadership with NLC, no,” Okafor stated. He emphasized the need to follow proper procedures to establish party leadership.

Okafor declared himself the acting chairman of the Labour Party and announced plans for an expansive convention. “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,” he said. Okafor added that within six months, efforts would be made to reconcile all aggrieved members and groups to forge a united Labour Party aimed at redefining political leadership in Nigeria.

Okafor characterized his intervention as “a pivotal resolution of the long drawn legal battle for the soul of LP.”