A former member of the Labour Party (LP) Kenneth Okonkwo, has called for President Bola Tinubu, Peter Obi, and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to step aside from the race for the presidency in the upcoming 2027 general election.
Okonkwo, who served as the spokesperson for the LP’s presidential campaign team in the 2023 election, had previously supported Obi, who was the party’s candidate in that election. However, two years later, the Nollywood actor-turned-politician has distanced himself from Obi’s camp and urged the trio of political heavyweights to allow new candidates a chance to contest the next presidential election.
In a televised interview, Okonkwo was asked if he still believed the three leaders should make way for others in the next general election. He responded, “I said it and I maintain it because in Nigeria, people will not give you their mandate and you treat it with levity. You must do everything decisively to secure it. Unfortunately, nature has bestowed on us the duty that in Nigeria, you will not only win an election, but you have to fight for your mandate.”
Okonkwo emphasized that while he had worked alongside Obi in 2023, he now considers that chapter closed. “Whatever happened in 2023 should stay in 2023,” Okonkwo declared, indicating that he would not support the former Anambra State governor in the next election.
The former LP leader, who had been instrumental in the party’s rise during the 2023 election , where Obi secured third place with over six million votes, largely from a youth-driven base resigned from the party on Tuesday, citing internal conflicts within the Labour Party. Despite this, Okonkwo firmly ruled out rejoining the All Progressives Congress (APC), stating, “I resigned [from APC] on principle.”
He added, however, that he would reconsider his position if the APC underwent significant reforms. “Let me tell you, I will be the first person to admit if the APC changes today and is doing well for Nigeria,” he said, accusing the ruling party of failing to address the country’s ongoing challenges.
