By Anifowoshe Oladipupo
Veteran Nollywood actor and former spokesperson of the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council, Kenneth Okonkwo, has accused the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, of betrayal amid the ongoing internal crisis within the party.
In a viral interview with Symfoni, which began trending on Saturday, Okonkwo, who formally exited the Labour Party in February 2025 claimed that Obi disregarded his counsel and chose to align with the embattled Julius Abure-led faction, despite prior warnings.
He alleged that Obi was misled by party executives who falsely claimed that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), had recognised the Abure leadership.
“Any politician who knows what he’s doing cannot be betrayed by another. But if there’s anyone who betrayed the other, I can emphatically say that Peter Obi betrayed me,” Okonkwo declared.
According to him, he had privately urged Obi not to associate with the Abure-led group, which he described as undemocratic and complicit in undermining the party’s integrity.
“The Abure-led Labour Party members lied to Obi that INEC had accepted them. I told him: ‘Sir, you’ve made public statements about integrity, and even if INEC has accepted them, that’s no reason to return to a group that has shown clear signs of anti-democratic behavior. If you go back to them, they’ll ruin your political credibility,’” Okonkwo stated.
Despite his appeals, Okonkwo said Obi went ahead to publicly endorse the faction.
“I told Obi these individuals were acting as agents of the government, seeking to destabilize him. What they did was absolutely illegal and unconstitutional.
“I made it clear that if he rejoined them, I wouldn’t follow suit. I also informed other key members of our inner circle of my decision,” he added.
According to Okonkwo, shortly after his warnings, Obi visited the Abure-led faction’s office to offer public support.
“Within 72 hours, Obi went to Abure’s office to endorse them. While he was there, one of their leaders sent me a video, mocking me for standing against them – even as the person I defended had now joined them,” he said.
He further claimed that Obi only adopted a neutral stance after INEC later distanced itself from the Abure-led leadership.
“I told him neutrality wasn’t an option, something concrete had to be done,” he said.
The Labour Party has been embroiled in a protracted leadership crisis, with rival factions contesting the party’s national structure.
The Abure-led camp has faced multiple allegations, including financial mismanagement and anti-democratic practices; issues critics say contradict the party’s reformist ideals.
Okonkwo, a long-time supporter of Obi’s political philosophy, cited these issues as the reason for his departure from the party earlier this year.
