Kenneth Okonkwo: APC Will Pick Labour Party’s 2027 Presidential Candidate If Abure Remains Chairman

Kenneth Okonkwo, former spokesperson for the Labour Party’s (LP) 2023 presidential campaign, has raised serious concerns over the leadership of the party, claiming that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) will have the power to determine LP’s 2027 presidential candidate if Julius Abure remains as the party’s national chairman.

Okonkwo made these remarks during an appearance on Arise Television’s Prime Time program, where he criticized Abure’s leadership, accusing him of undermining the party’s democratic process and aligning with APC interests.

Leadership Dispute and Court Rulings

The crisis surrounding Abure’s leadership began earlier this year when Oluchi Oparah, the national treasurer of the Labour Party, accused him of misappropriating N3.5 billion. Although Abure denied the allegations and threatened legal action, internal party tensions escalated, with members calling for his removal.

In April 2023, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court issued a ruling that restrained Abure and several other national officers from representing themselves as LP leaders. However, in a dramatic turn of events, a Federal High Court in Abuja validated Abure’s leadership in September 2024, ordering the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognize him as the legitimate chairman following a party convention in Nnewi.

Despite the court’s ruling, Okonkwo remains adamant that Abure was not elected democratically. He claimed that Abure admitted to being chosen unopposed, further discrediting his legitimacy.

“Housemaid to APC”

In his remarks, Okonkwo accused Abure of running the Labour Party under a system of “transactional politics,” suggesting that the current leadership has turned the LP into a mere tool for the APC. According to him, if Abure remains in charge, the APC will influence LP’s decisions, including selecting its 2027 presidential candidate.

“I can tell you that Labour Party as presently constituted is now a housemaid to APC. The 2027 presidential candidate of the Labour Party will be decided on the table of APC,” Okonkwo stated. He expressed concerns that Labour Party members are being excluded from key decisions, and accused Abure of revoking previously reserved tickets for party heavyweights like Peter Obi and Alex Otti.

“Transactional Politics” and Alleged Corruption

Okonkwo also highlighted the transactional nature of Abure’s leadership, alleging that LP is engaging in political trades rather than upholding democratic principles. He pointed to Abure’s alleged withdrawal of Obi and Otti’s reserved tickets as evidence of this trend.

The former spokesperson warned that under Abure’s leadership, the Labour Party has become vulnerable to manipulation by the ruling APC. He also questioned INEC’s role, accusing the electoral body of failing to uphold its own judgment that Abure’s tenure had ended.

Future of Labour Party

As the Labour Party grapples with internal division and leadership battles, Okonkwo’s criticism paints a bleak picture for the party’s future if current dynamics continue. With the 2027 presidential election looming, the question remains whether LP can maintain its independence or if it will be, as Okonkwo claims, subject to the influence of the ruling APC.