Veteran actor-turned-politician Kenneth Okonkwo, a former spokesperson for Peter Obi’s presidential campaign, has officially announced his resignation from the Labour Party (LP). His decision, made public on Tuesday via a lengthy post on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle, signals deep-seated concerns about the party’s leadership and structural integrity.
Okonkwo stated that his resignation will take effect on February 25, 2025, exactly two years after the 2023 presidential election. He accused the Labour Party of being “non-existent as presently constituted,” citing leadership failures and internal disarray as key reasons for his exit.
In his post, Okonkwo pointed out glaring constitutional violations within the party, particularly the expiration of tenure for ward, local government, and state executives without the conduct of fresh congresses. According to him, Article 15(2)(3)(4) of the LP Constitution mandates a three-year tenure for these offices, which has lapsed without renewal.
He further criticized the former National Chairman, Julius Abure, and his National Working Committee (NWC) for failing to hold a legally recognized national convention. Despite INEC’s position and judicial rulings that party leadership matters are internal affairs, Okonkwo argued that the absence of legitimate leadership has left the Labour Party in a state of limbo.
Okonkwo also shed light on the emergence of the Senator Nenadi Usman-led Caretaker Committee, which was set up by the Labour Party’s National Executive Council (NEC) after INEC refused to recognize the Abure-led NWC. The committee was given six months to conduct congresses and a convention to restore party structure.
However, he accused Abure and his allies of colluding with external forces to undermine the caretaker committee through legal battles, thereby preventing it from fulfilling its mandate. Describing these actions as the work of “political jobbers,” Okonkwo lamented that the internal wrangling has effectively rendered the party dysfunctional.
Declaring his allegiance to “all Nigerians of goodwill” rather than any particular party, Okonkwo expressed gratitude to those who supported him and vowed to continue fighting for good governance. While he did not disclose his next political move, his statement hinted at future engagements with “well-meaning, like-minded Nigerians” to build a better political platform for national progress.
With his resignation set to take effect in February 2025, Okonkwo’s exit adds to the growing concerns about the Labour Party’s stability and ability to remain a formidable opposition force ahead of the next election cycle.
As speculation mounts over his political future, will Kenneth Okonkwo align with another party, or is he paving the way for a new political movement? His next steps could reshape the conversation around Nigeria’s opposition landscape in the coming months.
PIONEER NEWS 