The Labour Party (LP) is facing a deepening crisis as factional National Chairman Callistus Okafor announced his exit from the party on Thursday, May 22, 2025, declaring that the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, lacks the capacity to lead Nigeria. Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, Okafor revealed that his decision to leave, along with an estimated five million supporters, followed extensive deliberations by his faction’s National Working Committee and National Executive Council.
Okafor cited the LP’s unresolved leadership tussles, which he said have plagued the party for seven years, as a key reason for his departure. “My team and I had carefully looked at what is happening in the Labour Party, including the crises that have been going on for seven years, and wondered how long it will continue,” he stated. He announced that his faction is moving to Team Wazobia Nigeria, a socio-political and non-partisan movement, signaling a significant shift in his political alignment.
Blaming Peter Obi for failing to resolve the party’s internal conflicts, Okafor questioned Obi’s ability to govern Nigeria, saying, “This crisis has come to a point where it’s no longer healthy in the Labour Party.” His exit adds to the LP’s ongoing turmoil, with multiple factions led by figures like Julius Abure, Lamidi Apapa, and Nenadi Usman also vying for control. Okafor’s departure and his formation of Team Wazobia Nigeria could further fragment the LP’s support base, posing a challenge to its unity and influence ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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