Even as our campaign spokesperson, he worked for Tinubu; he’s on his way to APC – Labour Party’s Arabambi on Kenneth Okonkwo

Kenneth Okonkwo, a former spokesperson for the Labour Party (LP) during the 2023 presidential election, is on a path back to the All Progressives Congress (APC), according to Abayomi Arabambi, spokesperson for the Lamidi Apapa-led faction of the LP.

Okonkwo resigned from the LP on Tuesday, citing the party’s internal crisis as the reason for his departure. His exit comes after he initially left the APC in 2022, protesting the party’s decision to field a Muslim-Muslim ticket in the presidential election.

Speaking on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme, Arabambi accused the Nollywood actor of long-standing ties with the ruling APC. He alleged that Okonkwo had collaborated with President Bola Tinubu’s camp even while serving as a spokesperson for the LP during the 2023 election.

Arabambi dismissed Okonkwo’s resignation as insignificant, stating that the party remains focused on its goal of challenging the current administration in 2027. He also warned that the LP would not tolerate what he called “political rascality” within its ranks.

“We wish Mr. Kenneth Okonkwo well. His resignation is good riddance to bad rubbish. He should not speak about the Labour Party anymore,” Arabambi said. “There is no leadership crisis in the Labour Party. The party is not going into extinction; that is just a figment of our detractors’ imaginations.”

The factional spokesperson insisted that Okonkwo had previously worked against LP’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and PDP candidate Atiku Abubakar. “He’s going back to APC. He worked with them against Peter Obi and Atiku in 2019. We know he’s still going back there. We wish him well. We will meet in 2027.”

Arabambi also defended the leadership of the LP’s factional national chairman, stating that efforts were underway to unite the party and address internal concerns.

Peter Obi, the LP’s flagbearer in 2023, finished third in the election behind Atiku Abubakar of the PDP and President Bola Tinubu of the APC.