Former spokesperson of the Labour Party (LP) Presidential Campaign Organisation, Kenneth Okonkwo, has met with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the last election.
Okonkwo, a well-known Nollywood actor-turned-politician, was previously a strong supporter of Peter Obi, LP’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election.
However, in a post on his Instagram account, he explained his meeting with Atiku, describing it as a consultative session on Nigeria’s future.
“It’s a privilege and honour to be invited by His Excellency Atiku Abubakar for a consultative meeting on how best to chart a new course for our beloved country,” Okonkwo wrote.
“The situation in Nigeria today requires the cooperation of every well-meaning Nigerian to ensure that our country is restored to its path of greatness.”
Okonkwo had left the Labour Party in 2024, citing Obi’s failure to build the party into a strong political force.
He accused the LP flagbearer of not providing the leadership needed to transform the party into a credible alternative capable of challenging Nigeria’s “kakistocrats and kleptocrats.”
“After the 2023 general election, Nigerians, including me, had high hopes for the Labour Party. I believed that Peter Obi would seize the momentum and build a solid party of integrity with a strong grassroots base,” Okonkwo stated.
“However, I continued defending him, believing he would privately address the party’s challenges, but to no avail.”
Despite his dissatisfaction with the Labour Party, Okonkwo had earlier ruled out joining the All Progressives Congress (APC) or PDP.
Instead, he emphasized that his next political move would involve consultations and alliances with like-minded individuals.
“With this declaration, I am free to embark on negotiations and consultations to determine the next step in my political journey,” he stated.
“This does not include joining APC or PDP for now, but it does involve consolidating the Labour Party and exploring other options.”
