Kenneth Okonkwo, former spokesperson and prominent member of the Labour Party (LP), has publicly accused Peter Obi, the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, of betrayal and poor leadership amid ongoing internal conflicts within the party.
In an interview with Symfoni TV, Okonkwo criticized Obi for aligning himself with the faction led by Julius Abure, which Okonkwo alleges maintains ties with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). He said Obi repeatedly ignored calls to distance himself from Abure’s camp, a move Okonkwo believes has deepened divisions within the party.
“The problem is that Peter Obi refused to manage the party,” Okonkwo said. “He chose to side with people who are allegedly cozying up to the APC. When advised to break away from that faction, he turned a deaf ear.”
The actor-turned-politician also accused Obi of alienating loyal party members by endorsing candidates from other political parties during recent elections. He described Obi as “a politician of convenience, not conviction,” alleging that the former Anambra governor lacks the qualities of a team player and effective leader.
“When we started in 2023, it was a genuine movement. Every Nigerian wanted change. I joined willingly, and when I was appointed spokesperson, I gave it my all,” Okonkwo said. “We believed we won that election. But instead of building toward 2027, Obi hasn’t even started to consolidate his own party.”
Having left the LP in July 2024, Okonkwo dismissed claims that his exit was a betrayal of Obi, insisting instead that Obi was the one who betrayed him.
“Any politician who knows what he is doing cannot be betrayed by anyone. But if anyone betrayed someone, I can say it with certainty that Peter Obi betrayed me,” he declared.
Okonkwo further asserted that Obi lacks the ability to transform electoral support into a secure mandate. “He has shown that even if the people vote for him, he doesn’t have what it takes to secure the mandate,” he added.
Just a month before his departure, Okonkwo had described the LP as “a secret society led by a group of clowns,” expressing frustration with the party’s internal workings and strategic direction.
