Labour Party Crisis Deepens As Anambra Chairman Accuses Moghalu Of Threat, Court Orders Fuel Political Uncertainty

 

The Labour Party in Anambra State has been thrown deeper into crisis after its chairman, Comrade Peter Okoye, raised alarm over what he described as direct threats to his life. The threats, he alleged, stemmed from his ongoing legal battle against the party’s controversial governorship candidate, Dr George Moghalu.

Okoye, who insists that Moghalu is not the authentic candidate of the Labour Party in the state, told journalists that his stance has exposed him and his family to growing risks. He said the matter escalated when he received a disturbing phone call from an individual claiming to be “Jack from Nanka, Orumba North Local Government Area.”

According to the party chairman, the caller wasted no time issuing warnings, demanding that he withdraw the legal suit he filed against Moghalu within 48 hours. The caller allegedly threatened to make Anambra unsafe for him if he failed to comply. Quoting the words of the caller, Okoye recounted: “If you don’t withdraw the case from court within 48 hours, I will chase you out of Anambra State. Ask them in Anambra who is Jack, I’m from Nanka. I learnt you are from Orumba. If you don’t remove that case from court, I will know whether you are mad. Are you stupid? How can you jeopardize the future of scores of young people in the state? What I’m telling you now, if you don’t remove that case from the court, you will see me, Ogbanje ga-agba gi.”

He noted that the manner of the call, the choice of words, and the timing suggest that the alleged caller was acting on behalf of the embattled governorship aspirant.

The court battle itself has been a long-running one. Okoye had earlier dragged Moghalu to court, challenging the legitimacy of his candidacy in the Labour Party’s primaries. The Federal High Court sitting in Enugu initially entertained the case before transferring it on September 8, 2025, to the Federal High Court, Anambra. Prior to that, the court had ordered Moghalu to desist from parading himself as the party’s governorship candidate.

Okoye insists that the process which produced Moghalu was illegal, explaining that the disputed primary was organized on April 5, 2025, by the faction loyal to Julius Abure, the former National Chairman of the Labour Party. He reminded the public that the Abure leadership was sacked on April 4, 2025, and therefore had no legal authority to conduct a primary the following day.

To Okoye, the situation is more than an internal disagreement, it is a fight for the soul of the Labour Party in Anambra State. He maintains that the party in Anambra remains under the leadership of Senator Nenadi Usman, and any candidate produced outside that structure cannot stand as legitimate.

His fears, however, have now shifted from political concerns to matters of personal safety. Calling on law enforcement agencies to step in, Okoye urged the police and other security operatives to act swiftly before the threats escalate into physical harm. “I call on all security operatives in Anambra State to protect me and my family against George Moghalu’s attacks. He is not our candidate. Anambra voters should disregard his illegal gatherings,” he appealed.

Reacting to the allegations, George Moghalu was dismissive, questioning Okoye’s authority and even his relevance within the Labour Party. “Who is Okoye? Okoye is not Labour Party Chairman in Anambra State. That’s rubbish. Let him go and report the matter to the police for investigation. If anybody is threatening him, it is not to my knowledge,” he stated firmly.

Moghalu further distanced himself from the alleged telephone call, stressing that he has no reason to threaten Okoye. He argued that every individual has a right to seek justice in court if dissatisfied with internal party matters. “I don’t know about that. Why am I going to threaten him? It’s his fundamental right to go to court if he is aggrieved,” he remarked.

The conflicting statements have left party members and the wider political community in suspense as to what direction the dispute will take. Some political watchers in the state say the escalating tension could undermine the Labour Party’s chances in the governorship election if reconciliation is not quickly achieved. Others argue that the deepening crisis only reflects the long-standing divisions within the party at the national level, divisions that continue to spill into state chapters.

Party loyalists remain divided. While some back Okoye’s insistence that the Labour Party must operate under the leadership structure recognized by the court, others see Moghalu as the candidate with broader political visibility. However, the issue of personal safety has now overshadowed internal loyalty contests, as many await to see whether the security agencies will take proactive steps to protect Okoye.

Observers also note that this case could become a precedent in the state, where intra-party disputes often spiral into violent confrontations. The call allegedly received by Okoye highlights the dangerous trend of threats becoming a weapon in political struggles.

As the matter returns to court in Anambra, the outcome of the legal tussle will not only determine who flies the Labour Party flag in the next election but also reveal how well Nigeria’s political system can protect those who seek justice within the law. Until then, the tension between Comrade Peter Okoye and Dr George Moghalu promises to remain one of the most closely watched political dramas in Anambra State.