Veteran Nollywood actor and former spokesperson for the Labour Party (LP) Presidential Campaign Council, Kenneth Okonkwo, has accused Peter Obi of betraying him amid ongoing internal rifts within the party.
In a widely circulated interview with Symfoni that gained traction on Saturday, Okonkwo—who officially left the LP in February 2025—claimed that Obi disregarded his counsel and chose to align with the controversial Julius Abure-led faction of the party.
Okonkwo stated that Obi was misinformed by party officials who allegedly told him that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had recognised their faction. He said he warned Obi against siding with them, emphasizing that their actions were undemocratic and could tarnish his reputation.
“Any politician who knows what they’re doing can’t be betrayed. But in this case, I can confidently say Peter Obi betrayed me,” Okonkwo said. “Abure and his group lied that INEC had validated them. Despite my warning, Obi went back to them. I told him it would damage his credibility and political career.”
He recounted advising Obi in private not to associate with individuals he described as “agents of the government” bent on undermining the Labour Party’s integrity. He said Obi ignored this and publicly endorsed the Abure group just days later.
“I told Obi that those people were working to destabilize him and had acted unconstitutionally. I made it clear I wouldn’t follow him if he rejoined them,” Okonkwo said. “When Obi returned to their office, someone from that faction even sent me a video of the meeting, mocking me for defending him.”
Okonkwo added that Obi only started appearing neutral after INEC distanced itself from the Abure-led leadership, but by then, the damage had already been done.
The Labour Party has been in a prolonged leadership crisis, with multiple factions claiming control of the party’s national structure. The Abure-led group has been accused of financial impropriety and undemocratic conduct, which many believe contradicts the LP’s reformist values.
Citing these issues, Okonkwo, who once stood firmly behind Obi’s political vision, said they were among the reasons he resigned from the party earlier this year.
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