The State Working Committee (SWC) of the Labour Party in Imo State has unanimously passed a Vote of No Confidence on the State Chairman, Callistus Ihejiagwa, citing autocracy, financial recklessness, constitutional breaches, and betrayal of the party’s principles. In a press release issued on Friday, the committee demanded Ihejiagwa’s immediate resignation, accusing him of gross misconduct, abuse of office, and acting as a stooge for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The statement was signed by key members of the SWC, including the State Secretary, the three Zonal Chairmen/Deputy State Chairmen of Orlu, Okigwe, and Owerri Zones, the State Woman Leader, the State Legal Adviser, the State Organizing Secretary, the Publicity Secretary, the Assistant State Secretary, Okigwe Zonal Woman Leader, and Okigwe Youth Leader, among others.
The SWC leveled several allegations against Ihejiagwa, including:
Financial Recklessness and Misappropriation: The SWC alleged that Ihejiagwa mismanaged party funds without accountability to the leadership structure.
Unconstitutional Usurpation of SWC Functions: The committee claimed that Ihejiagwa made unilateral decisions and restructured party leadership at state and local levels without due process.
Compromising the Party’s Opposition Stance: Ihejiagwa was accused of embarking on an APC-sponsored pilgrimage to Israel, raising questions about his loyalty and credibility as an opposition leader.
Disregard for Party Leadership and Structure: The SWC alleged that Ihejiagwa unilaterally replaced key executives with his loyalists at the Labour Party National Headquarters without consulting the Leader of the Party in Imo State, Sen. Athan Achonu, the National Vice Chairman (South East), the State Secretary, Zonal Chairmen, or other party leaders.
Exploiting Personal Relationships: The committee accused Ihejiagwa of using his personal relationship with the National Chairman to override due process and impose changes without consultation.
The SWC described Ihejiagwa’s actions as a direct sabotage of the Labour Party’s mission in Imo State, warning that his continued leadership would weaken the party’s position and jeopardize its electoral prospects.
The committee firmly demanded Ihejiagwa’s immediate resignation and called on the National Chairman to intervene by reconstituting the SWC and reinstating hardworking members who were allegedly removed illegally.
“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 argued.
The committee also expressed concerns that Ihejiagwa’s continued stay in office could endanger the Labour Party’s House of Representatives member and Imo State House of Assembly counterpart. They cited his suspicious cancellation of an Owerri Zonal meeting-organized by Labour Party lawmakers in collaboration with the Owerri Zonal Chairman;while still on his APC-sponsored pilgrimage.
The SWC warned that if immediate action is not taken, the Labour Party in Imo risks internal collapse, as party faithful are already losing confidence in the leadership.
“The Labour Party stands for integrity, transparency, and accountability,” the statement concluded. “Barr. Callistus Ihejiagwa has betrayed these values, and for the sake of the party’s future in Imo, he must step down immediately.”
DAILY MENTOR reports that the crisis within the Imo State Labour Party highlights the challenges of maintaining unity and accountability in political organizations. The outcome of this dispute could have significant implications for the party’s stability and performance in future elections.