Former spokesman and prominent figure in the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential campaign, Kenneth Okonkwo, has attacked Peter Obi harshly, charging the former presidential candidate of treachery and mishandling the party’s chances after the election.
The Nollywood actor-turned-politician said in a scathing interview with Symfoni TV that Obi’s choice to support the Julius Abure-led wing of the party, which Okonkwo said has secret ties to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has caused internal strife and alienated key supporters.
“Peter Obi’s refusal to distance himself from those allegedly in bed with the APC is the root of the Labour Party’s crisis,” Okonkwo declared. “He shut his ears to warnings and chose loyalty to a compromised faction over the unity of the movement.”
Okonkwo, who formally left the Labour Party in July 2024, said Obi’s political conduct since the 2023 general election revealed a pattern of opportunism, not conviction.
“He’s not a team player. When the movement began, it was organic. Nigerians wanted a change. I joined without being coerced. But Obi has not even built a solid structure in his own party, let alone for 2027,” he said.
The former LP spokesperson also accused Obi of sidelining loyal party members and, in some cases, endorsing candidates from rival political parties. According to him, these moves have dampened the morale of genuine reformists within the party.
On the matter of betrayal, Okonkwo pushed back against claims that he abandoned Obi. Instead, he claimed it was the former governor of Anambra State who turned his back on those who stood by him.
“If anyone was betrayed, it’s me. Peter Obi failed to protect the people who gave him their sweat and loyalty. A true politician should never be blindsided,” Okonkwo said.
The outspoken politician also questioned Obi’s ability to convert popular support into actual political success. “It’s not enough for people to vote for you. If you cannot secure and defend the mandate, then what leadership are you offering?” he queried.
Okonkwo’s criticism comes after months of simmering tension within the Labour Party, particularly between reform-minded members and the Abure-led faction, which has faced accusations of lacking transparency and ideological consistency.
Just weeks before his resignation, Okonkwo went as far as describing the Labour Party as “a secret society run by clowns,” citing his disillusionment with its internal politics and governance style.
The latest salvo from Okonkwo adds a new layer to the Labour Party’s ongoing crisis, raising questions about its cohesion ahead of the 2027 general elections — and casting a shadow over Obi’s chances of uniting the party once more.
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