One of the spokespersons for the Labour Party’s presidential campaign council in the 2023 election, Kenneth Okonkwo, has announced his departure from the party and severing political ties with party’s candidate, Peter Obi.
Okonkwo cited lack of confidence in the leadership of Peter Obi, the LP presidential candidate in 2023.
In a statement posted on his X handle on Saturday, Okonkwo expressed his disillusionment with Obi’s ability to build a party capable of winning elections. “Even if the people vote for him, he doesn’t have what it takes to secure the mandate,” Okonkwo stated.
Okonkwo, who left the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for LP in the lead-up to the 2023 presidential election, served as one of the spokespersons for the LP presidential campaign council.
However, he has recently been vocal in his criticism of the LP’s National Working Committee (NWC), led by Chairman Julius Abure.
In June 2024, Okonkwo described the LP as “a secret society led by a group of clowns,” and hinted at the possibility of leaving the party. His statement on Saturday confirmed this decision, citing recent events within the party as a catalyst for his departure.
Reflecting on his initial optimism following the 2023 elections, Okonkwo said many Nigerians, including himself, had “high hopes” for Obi. “He just needed to give the right directives and everyone would fall in line. I received my first shock when he publicly declared that he didn’t promise Nigerians to build a strong Labour Party, but to solve Nigeria’s problems,” Okonkwo remarked.
Okonkwo criticized Obi for not taking decisive action to address the party’s issues, including the failure to organise an all-inclusive convention and the lack of dissociation from the expired NWC’s “shenanigans and criminal activities.”
He highlighted the confusion among LP members due to the perceived lack of leadership from Obi.
“Every member of the Labour Party is confused today as to the future of the Labour Party because of lack of leadership from PO over the party,” he said. “I cannot continue to speak on behalf of a leader that I do not know his stand on issues of great importance.”
Okonkwo also accused Obi of not supporting the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in its efforts to combat those attempting to hijack the party. “An ordinary statement from the LP presidential candidate would have resolved the issues,” he added.
In his concluding remarks, Okonkwo stated, “I no longer have the confidence that PO has what it takes to build a party that can win against these ‘kakistocrats’ and kleptocrats. Above all, he has proved that even if the people vote for him, he doesn’t have what it takes to secure the mandate.”
Okonkwo emphasised that his decision was not driven by any desire to rejoin APC or PDP, but rather by a commitment to continue his political journey towards a better Nigeria without Peter Obi.
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