The Labour Party says Kenneth Okonkwo’s attack on Peter Obi, its 2023 presidential candidate, was “unfortunate and attention-seeking”.
On Sunday, Okonkwo, a chieftain of the LP, said he no longer has confidence in the ability of Obi to build a party that can win elections.
He said Obi has “proved that even if the people vote for him, he does not have what it takes to secure the mandate”.
The LP chieftain said the recent happenings in the party have “inspired” him to make “a determination to chart a new course for my political journey”.
In June, Okonkwo described the opposition party as “a secret society led by a group of clowns,” adding that he could not rule out leaving the party.
Okonkwo also said his comments have “nothing to do with any desire to join the APC or the PDP,” adding that he will always join Nigerians in the aspirations for a better country.
However, Obiora Ifoh, the national publicity secretary of the LP, in a statement, said Okonkwo’s resignation from the party did not come as a surprise.
Ifoh said the party viewed Okonkwo’s criticism of Obi as unfortunate and attention-seeking.
“Kenneth Okonkwo’s resignation from the Labour Party didn’t come to us as a surprise. We also think that his attack on the party’s leader, Peter Obi, is rather unfortunate,” the statement reads.
“However, we will continue not to dignify him with any response, as we understand that his attention-craving attitude knows no bounds.
“Recently, a former director-general of the party’s presidential campaign organisation resigned and rejoined the APC.
“Only last week, an ex-deputy director-general of the presidential campaign organisation also resigned and rejoined the APC.
“Today, it is the turn of Mr. Okonkwo, a former member of APC, who smuggled himself into the presidential campaign, and his destination is already known to us.
“Needless to say that Nigeria is not in want of political jesters and jobbers whose stomach are their gods. The Labour Party is not perturbed by his decision to move on, and in fact, we wish him well in his future endeavours, whether in acting, law practice, politics, or otherwise.
“We also wish to note here that the party is aware of a few other persons who are planted as moles, who are presently instigating crises within the party, and who have unsuccessfully attempted to hijack the party for the use of their paymasters.
“We urge them to act fast and do the needful before they are exposed and fumigated out of the party.”
The LP spokesperson said the party remains committed to supporting Obi as its 2027 presidential candidate.
“Coordinated attacks from some quarters will not in any way diminish the trust Nigerians, particularly the obedients and youths in Nigeria, have in him,” Ifoh said.
“We know that with him, a new Nigeria will be possible. Nigerians spoke loudly in 2023, and they will speak even louder come 2027.”
In the build-up to the 2023 presidential election, Okonkwo left the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for LP.
He was later appointed as one of the spokespersons of the LP presidential campaign council.
