Kenneth Okonkwo dumps LP, as party labelled him ‘mole’

Kenneth Okonkwo dumps LP, as party labelled him ‘mole’

Kenneth Okonkwo, a former spokesperson for the Labour Party (LP) Presidential Campaign Organisation, has dumped the party.

Okonkwo left the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for LP in 2022.

Lately, he has been critical of the national working committee (NWC) of the LP led by the chairman of the party, Julius Abure

In June 2024, he described the party as “a secret society led by a group of clowns”, adding that he could not rule out defecting

In a statement via his X handle, he specifically blamed the party’s presidential candidate for the last election, Peter Obi, and the crisis rocking the party, for his decision.

According to him, Obi did not do enough to build the party and solve its leadership crisis.

The Nollywood actor turned politician said: “He (Peter Obi) just needed to give the right directives and everyone will 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.

“I was like, does it mean Peter Obi is not aware that without a solid party base, we are heading to nowhere politically? However, I continued in his defence believing he will still privately bring the needed solution to LP problems but to no avail.

“PO also publicly demanded that the Abure-led National Working Committee must organise an all-inclusive convention that will guarantee the participation of all members of the Labour Party in the choice of their leaders.

“This didn’t happen, and surprisingly, PO refused to disassociate himself from the shenanigans and criminal activities of the former NWC as their time had expired.

“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, and unfortunately, when they look up to me to tell them about PO’s standpoint, I sincerely have nothing to tell them because I don’t know myself.

“I cannot continue to speak on behalf of a leader that I do not know his stand on issues of great importance. I simply don’t know how to manipulate facts.”

Labour Party reacts

The leadership of Labour Party (LP) has described Okonkwo as one of the moles in their camp, following his resignation from the party on Sunday.

Reacting in a statement on Sunday, the national publicity secretary of LP, Obiora Ifoh, said Okonkwo’s departure from the party did not come as a surprise to any of their followers who already knew that he was a mole within their rank.

Ifoh also stated that his attack on Obi, his one-time ally, was needless and rather unfortunate.

He said, “Kenneth Okonkwo’s resignation from the Labour Party didn’t come to us as a surprise. We also think that his attack on the party’s leader, Peter Obi is rather unfortunate, however, we will continue not to dignify him with any response as we understand that his attention-craving attitude knows no bounds.

“Recently a former DG of the party’s presidential campaign organisation (Doyin Okupe) resigned and rejoined the APC. Only last week, an ex-deputy Director General of the presidential campaign organisation also resigned and rejoined the APC. Today, it is the turn of Mr. Okonkwo, a former member of APC, who smuggled himself into the presidential campaign, and his destination is already known to us.”

He said the party is keeping to its decision to stand with Obi as its leader and presidential hopeful come the 2027 presidential election.

“Coordinated attacks from some quarters will not in any way diminish the trust Nigerians, particularly, the Obidients and youths in Nigeria have in him.”