Peter Obi’s presidential candidacy has suffered a glitch following the factional emergence of ambassador Jude Ezenwafor as Labour Party’s presidential flag bearer for the 2023 election.
Ezenwafor, who was the former Anambra State Chairman of Labour Party, was declared the presidential candidate by the party’s acting chairman, Calistus Uju Okafor, on Tuesday in Abuja.
Okafor said Ezenwafor emerged as a candidate through affirmation during the party’s primary that was graced by members from across the country, describing the new flag bearer as “a man of integrity.”
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“Having met all the requirements of the party, we hereby affirm you to be the presidential candidate of the Labour Party come 2023,” Okafor said.
Ezenwafor said his candidacy is to rescue Nigeria from its present predicament using the LP as a vehicle.
“Nigeria needs to be rescued. Labour is leading a revolutionary course, Labour party will win the general election.
“Our party is going to take over Nigeria and bring back the glory Nigeria needs.
“I have been in the corridors of government for the past 20 years. We are here on a rescue mission,” he said.
The development has thrown the momentum that is gathering around Obi, into disarray as the LP has two presidential candidates now and no one is sure of who will get a legal backing.
Ezenwafor had served the Anambra State government under different governors including Chinwoke Mbadinuju, Chris Ngige and Peter Obi, who he served for four months. His emergence as the candidate of the LP faction backed by the Acting National Chairman, thus stirs concern that they could be working for other political parties to thwart Obi’s chances.
Obi has enjoyed a huge followership, especially by Nigerian youths, since he declared his intention to run for president – mainly due to his issues-based campaign.
But Okafor said contrary to what many may believe, he was not fighting the former Anambra State governor, and his “doors are open” to discussion.
“I am fighting for what is my right. I am not fighting my brother. Those who think I’m being used should have a rethink,” he said.
Doyin Okupe, the director of Obi’s presidential campaign, had on Monday allayed fears of a leadership crisis rocking the Labour Party.
“I wish to reassure members of the Labour Party and the teeming supporters of HE Peter Obi nationwide and in the diaspora, that the leadership legal tussle in the party is no cause for alarm. It is just like a storm in a tea cup,” he said.
“We have had reasonable discussions wt Mr Calustus Okafor today, & I can categorically say that he is a patriotic Nigerian & a man of peace who will not engage in any act that will hurt an Igbo brother. I assure our Party members that these issues will be resolved amicably shortly,” he added.
But in response to the leadership crisis, Okafor said his fight is all about equity and justice, insisting that he remained the acting national chairman of the LP following the sacking of its late chairman, Abdulkadir Abdulsalam. He also said that no agreement has been reached yet between him and Okupe.
“I am fighting for Justice. There’s nowhere in any political party that an acting national secretary can take over the national chairmanship position. We have the deputy vice-chairman and the zonal vice Chairmen.
“There is nowhere in the constitution that says an acting national secretary could take over the leadership of a political party when the deputy national chairman and zonal vice chairmen. I am not witch-hunting Peter Obi.
“When Okupe called me, I told him that I was open for discussion. I was now surprised when he went to the media and said a different thing from what I told him.
“It is clear that he wanted to take me for granted. The leadership of the other faction is going about that I’m looking for recognition. It is an insult to me as a person.
“They should know that their leader is an acting national secretary while, I Calistus Uju Okafor is the acting national chairman. The court will soon remove them. I am very open to any discussion for the right thing to be done.
“The leader of the other faction should remain as the acting national secretary while I play my role as the acting national chairman. Every other positions in the Labour Party remain the same until we all obey the consent judgment that says an all-inclusive and expansive convention be held.”
On Tuesday, former Lagos State governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu, emerged as the presidential flag bearer of All Progressive Congress. This puts him up against the People’s Democratic Party’s candidate, Atiku Abubakar, who emerged the opposition’s flag bearer last month.
Nigerian youths, who are tired of bad leadership and are disappointed in the major parties’ choices of candidacy, have opted for Obi under the Labour Party. But the party’s leadership crisis has become a new challenge that will dampen their enthusiasm.