The Labour Party (LP) has disowned its former Presidential Campaign Council spokesman, Kenneth Okonkwo, following his decision to dump the party, telling him to return to Nollywood as politics is not his forte.
Okonkwo, a veteran actor-turned-politician, had on Tuesday announced his resignation from the LP, citing internal wranglings, leadership struggles, and the party’s lack of preparedness for the 2027 general elections.
“My entrance into politics is for the pursuit of good governance, and I will continue to work towards making Nigeria a great nation of incorruptible men. Unfortunately, this objective can no longer be realized within the Labour Party as currently constituted,” Okonkwo stated.
He also took a swipe at LP’s National Chairman, Julius Abure, accusing him of prioritizing personal interests over the party’s progress.
However, in a swift and scathing response, the Labour Party dismissed Okonkwo’s resignation as a mere ploy for attention, insisting that he had ceased being a member long ago.
Speaking in an interview with The PUNCH, the National Secretary of LP, Umar Farouk, ridiculed Okonkwo’s departure, claiming he was merely seeking relevance by making repeated exit announcements.
“How many times is he going to resign from the party? Has he forgotten that he resigned three, four, or five months ago? He only resurfaces when he wants to stay relevant. I have already addressed this issue with him,” Farouk stated.
Mocking Okonkwo’s political journey, Farouk reminded the public that the actor had jumped from one party to another, having been in APGA, PDP, and APC before joining LP.
“Let him carry his bag and go back to Nollywood where he belongs. He should leave us alone. He doesn’t deserve to be in any political party because he is not a good politician,” he added.
The LP’s sharp rebuke signals a complete severance of ties with the former spokesperson, reinforcing the internal rift that has plagued the party since the 2023 elections. With Okonkwo’s departure, it remains to be seen whether he will seek another political platform or heed LP’s advice to return to the silver screen.
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