Actor-turned-politician Kenneth Okonkwo quits Labour Party, citing leadership crisis, internal conflicts, and failure to uphold good governance
Veteran Nollywood actor and former spokesperson of the Labour Party (LP) presidential campaign, Kenneth Okonkwo, has resigned from the party, citing internal chaos and a lack of direction.
Okonkwo, who played a key role in LP’s 2023 presidential campaign, announced his resignation in a statement on Sunday, declaring that the party has become ineffective due to unresolved leadership crises.
‘LP No Longer Exists’
The actor-turned-politician expressed disappointment in the party’s current state, stating that it no longer aligns with his vision for good governance.
“My entrance into politics is for good governance, and I will continue to work towards it to ensure that Nigeria becomes a great nation led by incorruptible men,”
he said.
“This aim can no longer be realized within Labour Party as presently constituted. Since the party is non-existent in its current form, I am constrained to resign my membership.”
He thanked supporters who stood by him and pledged his continued loyalty to the Nigerian people.
Okonkwo Opens Up About Joining Another Party
The former LP campaign spokesperson hinted at a future political move, stating that his resignation takes effect from February 25, 2025, exactly two years after the 2023 presidential election.
“After my resignation, I will be at liberty to join other well-meaning and like-minded Nigerians in charting a great future for good governance,”
he added.
Okonkwo has been a vocal critic of the party’s leadership, particularly National Chairman Julius Abure, whom he accused of prioritizing personal interests over the party’s survival.
In June 2024, he described LP as “a secret society led by a group of clowns.” By July, he publicly withdrew his confidence in the ability of Peter Obi, the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, to build a strong political force.
LP’s Lingering Leadership Crisis
Okonkwo’s resignation comes as the Labour Party remains mired in leadership disputes. The crisis escalated when Lamidi Apapa, deputy national chairman (South), declared himself the acting national chairman in 2023, challenging Abure’s leadership.
In 2024, a faction of the party rejected the national convention in Anambra, where Abure was re-elected as chairman. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) later announced that it did not monitor the convention, further complicating the leadership battle.
A faction of the party’s board of trustees (BoT) denounced Abure’s re-election, insisting his tenure had expired. The conflict deepened in February 2024 when the party’s national treasurer, Oluchi Oparah, accused Abure of misappropriating ₦3.5 billion—an allegation he denied.
In April, the FCT High Court restrained Abure and other national officers from parading themselves as party leaders. Despite this, Abure remained defiant, and in October 2024, a federal high court ruled in his favor. However, by January 2025, the Court of Appeal overturned the judgment, stating that the lower court lacked jurisdiction.
With Okonkwo officially parting ways with LP, observers are watching to see which party he will align with next. The former APC member had joined LP in 2022, citing opposition to the ruling party’s Muslim-Muslim ticket.
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