A former spokesperson for the Labour Party’s (LP) 2023 presidential campaign, Kenneth Okonkwo, has announced his resignation from the party, citing deepening leadership crises and a lack of recognized authority.
Speaking in an interview on Channels TV, the Nollywood actor-turned-politician criticized the party’s internal structure, asserting that it is currently operating without clear leadership. He dismissed the authority of the National Chairman, Julius Abure, despite a recent court ruling affirming his position.
The LP has been embroiled in a prolonged leadership dispute, with key stakeholders—including Abia State Governor Alex Otti—moving to sack Abure over internal disagreements. However, on October 8, 2024, the Federal High Court in Abuja reinstated Abure, validating the party’s national convention held in Nnewi. The ruling has since intensified internal tensions.
Explaining his decision to exit the party, Okonkwo stated:
“Anarchy has arrived at the Labour Party. Like I always say, anarchy is the absence of authority or non-recognition of authority. Currently, in the Labour Party, there is no authority governing the party.”
He further alleged that legal maneuvers have been used to sidestep the leadership question, adding that the courts have only issued rulings on electoral matters rather than the legitimacy of the party’s national convention.
With Okonkwo’s departure, the crisis within the LP appears far from over, raising concerns about the party’s stability ahead of future elections.
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