Callistus Okafor, a factional chairman of the Labour Party (LP), has announced the withdrawal of his group from the party, claiming to be taking along with him “five million members.”
Addressing journalists in Abuja on Thursday, Okafor said the decision to exit the party followed consultations within his faction, concluding that remaining in the LP was no longer tenable.
“My faction met and decided this is the time. On behalf of the five million Nigerians under my leadership, I announce our withdrawal from the Labour Party. We are now aligning with a new non-partisan movement called WaZoBia Nigeria,” he declared.
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According to Okafor, WaZoBia Nigeria is a socio-political movement that is not a political party, and he promised to unveil further details in due course.
He blamed the deepening divisions within the LP on failed leadership and missed opportunities for reconciliation, particularly after the 2023 general elections.
“Peter Obi supported Abure when he joined the LP, and now they are political enemies. If Obi had reached out to me, the Labour Party would have gone into the 2023 election united,” he said.
Okafor criticized Obi’s post-election approach, saying he failed to unite the party and reconcile the warring factions.
The Labour Party has faced a prolonged leadership crisis, with multiple figures — including Julius Abure, Nenadi Usman, and Callistus Okafor each laying claim to the party’s national leadership.