Kenneth Okonkwo, a prominent legal practitioner and former spokesperson for the Labour Party during the 2023 elections, has called on opposition parties to forge a united front in order to vote out the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.
In an interview on Arise TV, Okonkwo reacted to the recent political move by APC leaders in the Northwest, who threw their weight behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as their sole candidate for the next presidential race.
READ ALSO: Kenneth Okonkwo quits Labour Party, cites leadership crisis
The endorsement also extended automatic second-term tickets to the APC governors in the region and was accompanied by a vote of confidence in Tinubu’s leadership.
However, the development has been met with criticism from various quarters, given the country’s ongoing battles with poverty and insecurity. Okonkwo criticized the move, describing it as poorly timed and insensitive to the country’s dire socio-economic conditions.
“It is shameful that at a time when people are being killed, like the 15 people reportedly murdered this morning in Agatu LGA, Benue State, and the Northwest is grappling with the highest rate of out-of-school children and poverty, leaders are preoccupied with elections still two years away,” he said.
He argued that the endorsement did not reflect the will of the people but was rather the product of political maneuvering by elites who are disconnected from the pressing issues facing ordinary Nigerians. “Democracy is about the people, not a group of sycophants seeking power for its own sake,” Okonkwo added.
Reflecting on the last election cycle, Okonkwo, a Nollywood actor, attributed the opposition’s defeat in 2023 to a lack of cohesion among its ranks. He warned that unless unity is achieved, dislodging the APC from power will remain a difficult task.
“The only way to get APC out of power in 2027 is for the opposition to unite. Nigerians deserve a government rooted in integrity, competence, and a commitment to public welfare, not one focused on power retention,” he declared.
He went further to mock the APC’s ideological inconsistencies, comparing the party’s internal instability to the fluctuating taste of palm wine. “Today, they support Tinubu. Tomorrow, they’ll jump ship. That’s the instability the APC represents,” he said.
On the rumored discussions between former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi about a potential power-sharing arrangement, including a one-term presidency and a vice-presidential slot, Okonkwo stressed that political leadership must be determined by the electorate, not through backroom deals.
While commenting on the Labour Party’s foundational values, Okonkwo acknowledged its strong worker-centered ideology.
However, he raised concerns about the wave of politicians who joined the party without a genuine commitment to its principles. Although he has stepped away from the party due to internal challenges, Okonkwo emphasized that he remains active in the political landscape.
“I am part of a coalition that is still in the formative stages. We’re not rushing into platforms, but when we emerge, Nigerians will hear from us.
“We may not change the beginning of our story, but we can certainly change how it ends. And I believe we will succeed.”
 in 2027.){kind=link}