Kenneth Okonkwo Quits Labour Party, Calls It “Non-Existent”

Actor-turned-politician Kenneth Okonkwo has announced his resignation from the Labour Party, effective February 25, 2025. In a detailed post on X on Tuesday, Okonkwo explained that his decision stemmed from his belief that the party is “non-existent” in its current form.

Okonkwo pointed out several internal issues, citing that the party had failed to conduct congresses at the ward, local government, and state levels within the constitutionally allowed tenure. According to the Labour Party Constitution, the executives’ terms had expired due to this failure, leaving the party without effective leadership.

He further criticized the leadership vacuum at the national level, pointing to former National Chairman Julius Abure and his National Working Committee (NWC), which had not conducted a legal national convention. Okonkwo noted that the courts had ruled that internal party leadership issues were outside the courts’ jurisdiction, further complicating the party’s structure.

Despite the challenges, Okonkwo acknowledged the efforts of the Senator Nenadi Usman-led Caretaker Committee, which was legally constituted by the National Executive Council (NEC) of the party to organize congresses and a national convention. However, he lamented that legal challenges, spearheaded by Abure and others, had hindered the committee’s ability to function effectively.

Okonkwo also weighed in on the party’s presidential aspirations, suggesting that if Abure was truly interested in the emergence of a southern candidate for the 2027 presidential election, he should cede the position of national chairman to the northern region.

With the party’s current state being untenable, Okonkwo announced his resignation, stating, “Since the party is non-existent as presently constituted, I am constrained to resign my membership of the party.” He expressed his gratitude to the Nigerians who had supported him and pledged to continue his commitment to the nation’s welfare as he plans his future political moves.

He concluded, “This resignation takes effect from the 25th of February, 2025, which marks the second anniversary of the 2023 presidential election, after which I will be at liberty to join other well-meaning, like-minded Nigerians in charting a great future for our country.”