Labour Party Faction Dismisses Kenneth Okonkwo’s Exit As ‘Good Riddance’

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria  

The factional National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party (LP), Abayomi Arabambi, has described Nollywood actor Kenneth Okonkwo’s resignation from the party as “good riddance to bad rubbish,” insisting that his departure is inconsequential.

Okonkwo, a prominent supporter of the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, announced his resignation on Tuesday, citing the party’s lack of preparedness for the 2027 elections.

However, Arabambi, speaking on Politics Today on Channels Television on Wednesday, dismissed Okonkwo’s exit, saying the party remains strong and focused on unseating President Bola Tinubu’s administration in 2027.

“We wish Mr. Kenneth Okonkwo well. His resignation is good riddance to bad rubbish. He should not speak about the Labour Party anymore,” Arabambi stated.

He also dismissed concerns about a leadership crisis within the party, insisting that claims of LP’s decline were mere fabrications by detractors.

“The party is not going into extinction. It is just a figment of the imaginations of most of our detractors,” he added.

Arabambi further alleged that Okonkwo had never been truly loyal to the Labour Party, claiming the actor had ties with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and worked against the opposition in the 2023 elections.

“Kenneth Okonkwo has always been an APC man. He worked with President Tinubu and against Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar in the last election. We wish him well, and we will meet in 2027,” he said.

Addressing internal party issues, Arabambi warned that the LP would no longer tolerate “political rascality” within its ranks.

He stated that the National Chairman is currently leading a reconciliation process, which he claimed is unsettling certain individuals within the party.

“But in 2027, we are not going to have such political rascality in our party. The National Chairman is on a reconciliatory mission, which is why you see a lot of people being jittery,” Arabambi added.

Okonkwo, who played a key role in Obi’s 2023 campaign, has yet to respond to Arabambi’s comments.

However, his departure adds to the ongoing leadership struggles within the Labour Party, which has been marred by factional disputes and legal battles over control of the party’s structure.