The Labour Party (LP) faced a significant setback on Thursday, May 22, 2025, as factional National Chairman Callistus Okafor announced his exit from the party during a press conference in Abuja. Okafor, citing a seven-year leadership crisis and disappointment with the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, claimed to be leaving with approximately five million supporters to join Team Wazobia Nigeria, a socio-political, non-partisan movement. He stated that the decision followed extensive deliberations by his faction’s National Working Committee (NWC) and National Executive Council (NEC), declaring, “This crisis has come to a point where it’s no longer healthy in the Labour Party.”
Okafor criticized Obi for failing to resolve the party’s internal disputes, particularly for supporting National Chairman Julius Abure, whom he accused of financial misconduct, despite warnings from former National Treasurer Oluchi Opara. He argued that Obi’s inability to unify the LP raised doubts about his capacity to govern Nigeria, stating, “If he can’t govern the Labour Party, for me, he can’t govern Nigeria.” Okafor also dismissed the possibility of joining the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), noting its ongoing defections to the All Progressives Congress (APC), which he described as “the appealing party as of today.” While Team Wazobia Nigeria’s structure remains unclear, Okafor hinted at future announcements, positioning the movement as a potential third force ahead of the 2027 elections.
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