Nollywood veteran and political figure Kenneth Okonkwo has officially resigned from the Labour Party (LP), citing the party’s lack of direction and internal structure. He announced his decision via his X handle on Tuesday, stating that his resignation takes effect on February 25, 2025—exactly two years after the 2023 presidential election. According to Okonkwo, the party, in its current state, is incapable of shaping Nigeria’s political future.
Okonkwo pointed to the LP’s failure to conduct congresses at the ward, local government, and state levels, as well as its inability to hold a national convention. He criticized the party’s leadership under Julius Abure, accusing him of prioritizing personal gain over the party’s survival. He further argued that without a proper leadership structure, LP is effectively non-existent. The former spokesman also lamented that political jobbers within the party, in collaboration with external forces, have stalled meaningful progress through endless legal battles, ultimately weakening its position ahead of the 2027 elections.
In a scathing remark, Okonkwo warned that any southern politician still banking on the LP for a presidential bid in 2027 is engaging in wishful thinking. He accused the current leadership of merely using aspirants as financial leverage rather than building a viable opposition. With this, Okonkwo’s exit raises critical questions about LP’s readiness for the next electoral cycle and whether it can survive the internal crisis that continues to plague its leadership.