Veteran actor and former spokesman for the Labour Party’s Presidential Campaign Council, Kenneth Okonkwo, has responded firmly to insinuations of betrayal from the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Okonkwo challenged Obi to publicly clarify how he allegedly betrayed him, insisting he was fully loyal throughout his time with the party.
“When I worked for him, I never consulted any politician. I am making a public statement—I never talked to any political party. I was 100% loyal,” Okonkwo declared.
He further emphasized that when he left the Labour Party, he did so openly and without secrecy.
“I told the whole world…I said from now onward, I am not going to speak for this person again,” he added.
Okonkwo, a Nollywood star-turned-politician and legal practitioner, left the Labour Party in July 2024, citing internal crises and what he described as Peter Obi’s failure to address festering intra-party conflicts.
He also debunked rumors that he had been financially rewarded during the 2023 campaign. “I didn’t receive a dime or any house from Obi,” he said.
In response to Obi’s cryptic analogy suggesting that “Jesus had 12 disciples and one betrayed him,” Okonkwo called out the implication.
“That means he’s claiming to be Jesus in the analogy,” he remarked, adding, “How can you betray somebody you are not working for?”
Okonkwo concluded by noting that everyone is entitled to their opinion, but warned against painting false narratives. “They don’t understand what betrayal means. Anyone writing or saying anything about me is a reflection of who that person is—not of who I am,” he said.
The rift between both men has drawn attention as the Labour Party continues to grapple with internal restructuring ahead of the 2027 elections.
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