Kenneth Okonkwo accuses Peter Obi of betrayal amid party crisis
Kenneth Okonkwo in an interview on Channels TV Politics Today. Photo Credit- Vanguard
Veteran Nollywood actor and former Labour Party (LP) spokesperson Kenneth Okonkwo has publicly accused Peter Obi, the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, of betrayal in a deepening internal crisis within the LP. The allegations, detailed in a viral interview reported by Vanguard on June 14, 2025, highlight a significant rift following Okonkwo’s resignation from the party in February 2025. The feud centers on Obi’s decision to align with the controversial Julius Abure-led faction, despite Okonkwo’s warnings about its undemocratic practices.
Kenneth Okonkwo, who served as a key figure in Obi’s 2023 presidential campaign, claimed in the interview that Obi disregarded his counsel against endorsing Abure’s leadership, which faces allegations of financial impropriety. “Any politician that knows what he’s doing cannot be betrayed by another. If there is anybody that betrayed the other, I can say it emphatically that Peter Obi betrayed me,” Okonkwo stated, according to Vanguard. He further alleged that Obi’s public support for Abure, despite prior statements on integrity, undermined the party’s democratic principles, a move Okonkwo said led to his exit.
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The controversy escalated when Okonkwo revealed that Obi visited Abure’s office within 72 hours of his resignation, an action he learned about via a mocking video from a party executive. This, he argued, contradicted Obi’s neutral stance after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) disassociated itself from Abure’s faction. The LP has been plagued by internal strife since the 2023 elections, with factions vying for control, a situation exacerbated by Obi’s failure to resolve the crisis, as Okonkwo noted in his earlier resignation statement.
Reacting to the accusations, LP spokesperson Obiora Ifoh dismissed Okonkwo’s claims as “baseless,” urging him to focus on his acting career rather than party politics. However, the rift has sparked debates on social media, with social media users commenting, the fall and divide of Labour Party and criticizing Obi’s leadership. Political analysts suggest this could weaken the LP’s opposition role against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), especially as defections like Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s to the APC continue to reshape Nigeria’s political landscape.
The Labour Party has yet to issue an official response from Obi, who remains a prominent figure despite the internal turmoil. As the party navigates this crisis, the accusations raise questions about its future cohesion and ability to challenge the APC in the 2027 elections, with stakeholders watching closely amid Nigeria’s ongoing economic and security challenges.
