Callistus Okafor, factional national chair of Labour Party (LP), says the Nenadi Usman-led caretaker committee is illegal.

Okafor said this on Wednesday in reaction to the announcement of Usman, a former senator, as chair of a 29-member committee.

The committee was set up following a stakeholders meeting of the party convened by Alex Otti, governor of Abia and the most senior elected government official of the party.

In a statement, Okafor said Otti should provide a letter from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that acknowledged the meeting he convened in Abia.

“Article 11 of the 2009 Constitution which is the only constitution known to the party according to the consent judgment delivered by Hon. Justice G. O Kolawole on the 20th March, 2018 categorically stated the four (4) organizations of the party; ward, local government area, state and national,” he said.

“Both Dr. Alex Otti and Mr. Peter Obi do not have the constitutional authority to convene any meeting of the party.

“We challenge Dr. Alex Otti to produce the official letter addressed to him from the Independent Electoral Commission on the aforementioned subject matter.

“Therefore, the outcome of the Umuahia gathering remains NULL AND VOID.

“We are committed to reconciling all members and groups, mobilize and conduct all inclusive and expansive congresses in wards, local government areas, states and the national convention that will achieve a unified, focused labour party that will redefine: political leadership in Nigeria.”

Julius Abure and Okafor, factional chairs of the party, had rejected calls for the stakeholders meeting, declaring it illegal.

[TheCable]