‘Peter Obi Betrayed Me’: Kenneth Okonkwo Accuses Peter Obi of Betrayal Amid Labour Party Crisis [VIDEO]

 

Kenneth Okonkwo, veteran Nollywood actor and former spokesperson for the Labour Party's Presidential Campaign Council, has broken his silence over the deepening internal rift within the Labour Party, accusing ex-presidential candidate Peter Obi of betrayal.

Speaking during a now-viral interview with Symfoni that trended widely over the weekend, Okonkwo, who officially resigned from the Labour Party in February 2025, recounted the behind-the-scenes conflicts that led to his exit. At the heart of the matter was Obi's decision to realign with the Julius Abure-led faction of the party, a group Okonkwo has publicly denounced as undemocratic and compromised.

While Labour Party's internal discord has remained a public spectacle in recent months, the latest revelations from Okonkwo add a personal dimension to the power struggle. He claims that his warnings to Obi were dismissed, allowing individuals he referred to as "agents of the government" to tighten their grip on the party.

"Any politician that knows what he's doing cannot be betrayed by another," Okonkwo said. "If there is anybody that betrayed the other, I can say it emphatically that Peter Obi betrayed me."

Obi, who has long positioned himself as the face of a new political ideology centered on transparency and reform, reportedly sided with the controversial Abure-led leadership despite the storm of allegations surrounding their conduct. The faction has been accused of financial misappropriation and manipulating internal party structures — charges that run counter to the very values Obi campaigned on during the 2023 general elections.

Okonkwo explained that he personally advised Obi to avoid reuniting with a group that had, according to him, already shown a pattern of undemocratic behavior. He said he was taken aback when Obi chose to overlook those concerns, basing his decision on claims that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had recognized Abure's leadership.

"I told him, ‘Sir, you have made a public statement on integrity. Even if INEC has accepted them, that does not justify returning to them. These people are not democratic. If you go back, it will destroy your political credibility,’" Okonkwo recalled.

Despite these discussions, Obi made a public appearance at the Abure faction's headquarters within 72 hours. During that event, he was seen endorsing the same leadership that Okonkwo and others had flagged as problematic. The move reportedly blindsided several within Obi’s inner circle, including Okonkwo, who took the gesture as the final confirmation that the ideological alignment they once shared had fractured.

Making matters worse, Okonkwo said a member of the Abure-led group sent him footage of Obi’s visit as a form of mockery. "That was the ultimate betrayal," he added.

Obi's actions, according to Okonkwo, signaled a departure from principled politics and a slide into conventional power plays. He said Obi attempted to appear neutral after INEC eventually distanced itself from the embattled Abure-led group, but by then, the damage had already been done.

"You can't play neutrality after making a public endorsement," Okonkwo stated. "Something has to be done, and I made it clear I would not be part of a structure that legitimizes corruption and illegality."

The leadership crisis within the Labour Party has persisted since the post-election period, with various factions claiming legitimacy over the party's national structure. Accusations of fraud, internal sabotage, and external interference have clouded the party's reputation, once seen as the vanguard for Nigeria’s political awakening.

Once a key ally of Peter Obi and a consistent defender of his vision, Okonkwo now stands on the outside, disillusioned but firm in his convictions. His decision to step away from the Labour Party was not made lightly, he said, but stemmed from an unwillingness to compromise on principles he believes are essential for real political reform.

Having played a pivotal role during the 2023 presidential campaign, Okonkwo's departure and subsequent outcry mark a critical juncture for the Labour Party and Obi’s political future. As the party continues to grapple with internal divisions and credibility issues, voices like Okonkwo’s raise significant questions about the sustainability of its reformist image.

Whether Obi will respond to the accusations or clarify his position remains to be seen. For now, Okonkwo has made it clear that his departure was not just from a political party, but from a movement he feels has lost its moral compass.

𝐕𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐎: 𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐎𝐛𝐢 𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐝 𝐌𝐞, 𝐊𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐡 𝐎𝐤𝐨𝐧𝐤𝐰𝐨 𝐀𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰

Veteran actor and ex-spokesperson of the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council, Kenneth Okonkwo, has accused former presidential candidate, Peter… pic.twitter.com/1ifTY7E9aa

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