Former Labour Party (LP) stalwart Kenneth Okonkwo has urged President Bola Tinubu, Peter Obi, and ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar to withdraw from contesting the presidency in the upcoming election.
Okonkwo, who served as a spokesperson for the LP’s presidential campaign during the 2023 general election, worked closely with Obi, the party’s flagbearer in that race.
However, two years later, the Nollywood actor-turned-politician has retracted his support for Obi, calling on the LP leader, Atiku, and Tinubu to step aside and allow fresh candidates to emerge in Nigeria’s next electoral cycle.
During an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, he reaffirmed his stance when asked if he still believes the trio should make way for new contenders.
“I said it, and I stand by it because, in Nigeria, when people entrust you with their mandate, you must not take it lightly.
“You must act decisively to protect it. Unfortunately, our system demands that in Nigeria, winning an election is not enough—you have to fight to secure your mandate,” Okonkwo said on Tuesday.
The former LP leader, despite his previous alliance with Obi in 2023, made it clear that his support for the ex-governor of Anambra State is now a thing of the past.
“I still hold that view. Whatever happened in 2023 should remain there,” he stated, ruling out any endorsement of Obi in the next general election.
Okonkwo was a prominent figure in the Labour Party, which made a strong impact during the last election. Obi secured over six million votes, largely driven by youthful supporters, but finished in third place.
On Tuesday, Okonkwo officially resigned from the Labour Party, citing internal conflicts within the party.
The former All Progressives Congress (APC) member also dismissed any possibility of rejoining the ruling party.
“I resigned from APC on principle,” he asserted but added a condition under which he might reconsider his stance.
“If the APC genuinely reforms and begins to govern effectively, I will be the first to acknowledge it,” he said, accusing the party of failing to tackle Nigeria’s pressing issues.
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