Kenneth Okonkwo: Peter Obi Does Not Have What It Takes to Secure the Mandate if Voted For

Kenneth Okonkwo, a veteran Nollywood actor who served as Peter Obi’s campaign spokesperson during the 2023 Presidential election in Nigeria, has decided to part ways with the presidential candidate of the Labour Party.

In a statement released on Saturday night, the movie star turned politician claimed that Peter Obi has not demonstrated the expected capability in leading the Labour Party.

Okonkwo, who was a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), left the party for the Labour Party in 2022 as the Obidient movement began to take root across Nigeria. Through his political views and strong expressions, he became vital in fostering the Labour Party’s efforts towards winning the 2023 Presidential election. After the election, Okonkwo was also among Peter Obi’s legal team that challenged the emergence of Bola Tinubu as the winner of the said election.

However, expressing dissatisfaction with how Peter Obi handled some of the party’s challenges post-election, Okonkwo said he has lost confidence in the former governor of Anambra State.

“I no longer have the confidence that PO has what it takes to build a party that can win against these kakistocrats and kleptocrats, and above all, he has proved that even if the people vote for him, he doesn’t have what it takes to secure the mandate. I don’t intend to embark on such a campaign as we did in 2023, projecting a person who cannot sustain the victory even if he wins,” Okonkwo wrote.

Why Kenneth Okonkwo Is Charting A New Political Journey Away From Peter Obi

According to Okonkwo, Peter Obi’s inability to handle some of the challenges facing the party necessitated his decision to part ways with him.

“What is happening in the Labour Party today has inspired in me a determination to chart a new course for my political journey,” Okonkwo wrote.

“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 HE Peter Obi is not aware that without a solid party base, we are heading nowhere politically?”

The Nollywood star also cited Peter Obi’s inability to openly support the efforts of the Labour Unions, from which the Labour Party was founded, during their recent negotiations for a new minimum wage.

“I am shocked that PO could not openly support the noble efforts of the Labour Unions who founded the Labour Party as a base to fight for the welfare of workers to the extent that some of them are openly saying that PO is now the problem of LP.”

Although Okonkwo said he’s open to further negotiation with the Labour Party, he claimed not to have any desire to join APC or PDP at the moment.

“With this declaration, I am free to embark on negotiation and consultation with every like-minded people to determine the next step in my political journey, which does not include joining APC or PDP for now, but includes, and not limited to, consolidation of the Labour Party,” he wrote.

In January 2023, Doyin Okupe, the former Director General of the Peter Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Organisation, also left the Labour Party.