Ex-Labour Party’s Campaign Spokesman Okonkwo Resigns, Says Party Non-Existent

Kenneth Okonkwo, a former spokesperson for the Labour Party’s (LP) 2023 presidential campaign, has announced his resignation from the party, citing internal leadership issues and a lack of direction. Okonkwo, who was a prominent figure in the LP’s campaign, expressed disappointment over the party’s failure to uphold the principles of good governance, which motivated his entry into politics in the first place.

“My entrance into politics is for good governance, and I will continue to work for it to ensure that Nigeria becomes a great country of incorruptible men. This aim can no longer be realised within Labour Party as presently constituted,” Okonkwo said in his resignation statement.

He criticized the current state of the LP, describing it as “non-existent” and unable to serve the interests of the Nigerian people. “Since the party is non-existent as presently constituted, I am constrained to resign my membership of the party to all Nigerians of goodwill who supported us when we needed them most,” he added. He also pledged his continued loyalty to Nigerians in whatever path he takes politically.

Okonkwo’s resignation will take effect on February 25, 2025, the second anniversary of the 2023 presidential election. After this date, he intends to join other like-minded individuals in pursuit of good governance for the country.

The resignation follows a series of crises that have plagued the LP. Okonkwo has been outspoken about the leadership challenges within the party, particularly criticizing Julius Abure, the party’s national chairman, for allegedly prioritizing personal interests over the survival of the party.

Okonkwo’s dissatisfaction with the LP had been evident in recent months. In June 2024, he called the LP “a secret society led by a group of clowns” and warned that he would consider leaving the party if a national convention wasn’t held soon. He also expressed a lack of confidence in Peter Obi, the LP’s presidential candidate in 2023, stating that Obi’s inability to build a strong, winning party had led him to lose faith in his leadership.

Okonkwo initially defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the LP in 2022, but the party has faced significant internal turmoil since April 2023. This crisis intensified in 2024, culminating in disputes over leadership, with Abure’s re-election as chairman being contested by a faction of the party.

The LP’s Board of Trustees has dismissed the party’s national convention as a “charade,” and legal issues have further deepened the crisis. These disputes have even led to a ruling by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that Abure’s leadership violated the party’s constitution and the Electoral Act. However, recent court rulings, including one by the Court of Appeal in January 2025, have affirmed Abure’s chairmanship.

Okonkwo’s departure marks another significant development in the ongoing struggles within the Labour Party.