Political realignment: Kenneth Dumps Obi, Meets Atiku

By Emmanuel Kwada

In a surprise move, Kenneth Okonkwo, former spokesperson of the Labour Party (LP) Presidential Campaign Organisation, has met with former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the last election.

This development comes after Okonkwo publicly dumped Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate, citing his disappointment with Obi’s leadership.

Okonkwo, an actor-turned-politician, had been a staunch supporter of Obi but expressed his discontent with the party’s direction after the 2023 general election. He accused Obi of failing to inspire the brand of leadership that can solve Nigeria’s challenges, which he attributed to “kakistocrats and kleptocrats”.

Okonkwo, an actor-turned-politician, had been a staunch supporter of Obi but expressed his discontent with the party’s direction after the 2023 general election

The meeting between Okonkwo and Atiku has sparked speculation about a potential new political alliance. Okonkwo shared details of the meeting on his Instagram account, stating that it was an honor to be invited by Atiku for a consultative meeting on how to chart a new course for Nigeria.

He emphasized the need for cooperation among well-meaning Nigerians to restore the country to its path of greatness.

This development raises questions about Okonkwo’s future in politics and whether he will join forces with Atiku’s PDP or pursue a different path. Okonkwo had previously clarified that he had no plans to join the All Progressives Congress (APC) or PDP but would instead focus on consolidating the Labour Party.