Veteran Nollywood actor and former spokesperson for the Labour Party’s Presidential Campaign Council, Kenneth Okonkwo, has accused former presidential candidate Peter Obi of betraying him, following ongoing leadership disputes within the party.
In a recent interview with Symfoni, which went viral on Saturday, Okonkwo—who officially resigned from the Labour Party in February 2025—alleged that Obi ignored his advice and aligned himself with the faction led by Julius Abure, despite multiple warnings.
Okonkwo claimed that Obi was misled by party officials who allegedly told him that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had recognised the Abure-led group.
“Any experienced politician shouldn’t be susceptible to betrayal,” he said.
“But in this case, I can confidently say Peter Obi betrayed me.”
He recounted cautioning Obi against reuniting with the Abure-led faction, which he described as undemocratic.
According to him, Obi’s decision contradicted his public stance on integrity and reform.
“I warned him that returning to them would damage his political credibility. These individuals had already proven to be anti-democratic and tools in the hands of the establishment,” Okonkwo explained.
Despite these warnings, Okonkwo said Obi publicly endorsed the faction within 72 hours, a move that left him blindsided.
He revealed that a member of the Abure camp even sent him a video of Obi’s visit to their office as a form of ridicule.
“After telling everyone in our inner circle that I wouldn’t be part of any reconciliation with Abure’s team, Obi still went ahead. That was when I knew I had to step away,” he said.
Okonkwo added that Obi only began to adopt a neutral position after INEC reportedly distanced itself from Abure’s leadership, a move he described as reactive rather than principled.
The Labour Party has been engulfed in a prolonged leadership crisis, with different factions claiming control.
The Abure-led group has come under fire over allegations of financial impropriety and anti-democratic behavior—criticisms that Okonkwo said ultimately led to his exit from the party.