A Crisis in Imo Labour Party
The State Working Committee (SWC) of the Labour Party (LP) in Imo State has unanimously passed a vote of no confidence on its State Chairman, Callistus Ihejiagwa, citing autocracy, financial recklessness, constitutional breaches, and betrayal of party principles. The SWC has demanded Ihejiagwa’s immediate resignation, accusing him of gross misconduct and acting as a stooge for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The development signals a deepening crisis within the party, threatening its unity and electoral prospects in the state.
Allegations Against Ihejiagwa
In a press release signed by key members of the SWC, including the State Secretary, Zonal Chairmen, and other officials, the committee outlined several allegations against Ihejiagwa:
Autocratic Leadership: Ihejiagwa is accused of sidelining key officials and stakeholders in major party decisions, acting unilaterally without consultation.
Financial Recklessness: The SWC alleges misappropriation of party funds with no accountability to the leadership structure.
Unconstitutional Actions: Ihejiagwa is said to have usurped SWC functions, restructuring party leadership at state and local levels without due process.
Compromised Opposition Stance: The chairman’s participation in an APC-sponsored pilgrimage to Israel has raised questions about his loyalty to the Labour Party.
Disregard for Party Structure: Ihejiagwa allegedly manipulated the system at the Labour Party National Headquarters to replace key executives with his loyalists, bypassing due process and consultation with party leaders.
Call for Resignation and National Intervention
The SWC has called for Ihejiagwa’s immediate resignation, urging the National Chairman of the Labour Party to intervene and reconstitute the SWC. They emphasized the need to reinstate hardworking members who were illegally removed under Ihejiagwa’s leadership.
“His dictatorial leadership style, disregard for stakeholders, and constant restructuring of party executives for personal gain have made him unfit to continue in office,” the SWC stated.
Potential Consequences for the Party
The SWC warned that Ihejiagwa’s continued leadership could have dire consequences for the Labour Party in Imo State, including:
Jeopardizing the party’s electoral prospects.
Endangering the positions of the party’s House of Representatives member and Imo State House of Assembly counterpart.
Risking internal collapse due to dwindling confidence among party faithful.
The committee also highlighted Ihejiagwa’s suspicious cancellation of an Owerri Zonal meeting organized by Labour Party lawmakers, further fueling concerns about his leadership.
A Fight for Integrity
The Labour Party in Imo State is at a crossroads, with its SWC taking a firm stand against what it describes as a betrayal of the party’s core values of integrity, transparency, and accountability.
As the crisis unfolds, the party’s ability to address these internal challenges will determine its future in Imo State and its capacity to remain a viable opposition force.