Kenneth Okonkwo, a well-known actor and former spokesperson of the Labour Party, has spoken out against Peter Obi, the party’s 2023 presidential candidate. He accused Obi of betraying him and showing poor leadership, especially as the Labour Party continues to face internal problems.
During an interview with Symfoni TV, Okonkwo explained that Obi is supporting the faction led by Julius Abure. He believes this group has secret ties to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Okonkwo said he and others warned Obi to stay away from Abure, but Obi ignored them. This, he said, has caused more division within the party.
Okonkwo said, “The issue is that Peter Obi refused to lead the party well. He chose to join hands with people who might be working with the APC. When people advised him to take a different path, he refused to listen.”
He also criticized Obi for supporting candidates from other political parties during some recent elections. According to Okonkwo, this has pushed away many loyal party members. He described Obi as someone who only acts when it benefits him and said Obi is not a good leader or team player.
Okonkwo reminded the public that the Labour Party movement in 2023 was natural and powerful. “Nigerians wanted real change,” he said. “I joined the party willingly and worked hard as its spokesperson. We believed we won the 2023 election, but instead of preparing for 2027, Obi hasn’t even begun to fix his own party.”
In July 2024, Okonkwo officially left the Labour Party. He said his departure wasn’t a betrayal of Peter Obi—instead, he said Obi was the one who betrayed him.
He stated, “A serious politician cannot be betrayed easily. If there’s betrayal here, it’s Peter Obi who betrayed me.”
Okonkwo also questioned whether Obi can truly turn public support into actual political victory. “Even if the people vote for him, he doesn’t seem to have the ability to secure that win,” he said.
Before leaving the party, Okonkwo had already expressed his frustration. He called the Labour Party “a secret society led by clowns,” showing just how unhappy he was with how things were being handled.
