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 principles.
The committee, in a press release issued Friday, also demanded Ihejiagwa’s 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, Okigwe Youth Leader, among others.
They further alleged high-handed and autocratic leadership, by the embattled chairman and sidelining of key officials and stakeholders in major party decisions.
They also alleged ”financial recklessness and misappropriation of party funds, with no accountability to the leadership structure.
”Unconstitutional usurpation of SWC functions, making unilateral decisions and restructuring party leadership at state and local levels without due process.
”Compromising the party’s opposition stance by embarking on an APC-sponsored pilgrimage to Israel, calling into question his loyalty and credibility as an opposition leader.
”Disregard for party leadership and structure—he unilaterally went to the Labour Party National Headquarters and manipulated the system to replace key executives with his loyalists, without informing 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 relationship with the National Chairman to override due process, using his influence to impose changes without consultation.
The statement noted that the committee described his actions as a direct sabotage of the Labour Party’s mission in Imo State, noting that his continued leadership would weaken the party’s position in the state and jeopardize its electoral prospects.
The SWC firmly demanded Ihejiagwa’s immediate resignation, urging the National Chairman to intervene and reconstitute the SWC by reinstating hardworking members whom he illegally removed under the pretence of having the National Chairman’s backing.
“His dictatorial leadership style, disregard for stakeholders, and constant restructuring of party executives for personal gain have made him unfit to continue in office, they argued.”
The SWC warned that Ihejiagwa’s continued stay in office could have dire consequences for the Labour Party in Imo State, particularly endangering 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— whilst still on his APC-sponsored pilgrimage.
The SWC emphasized 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.”
