Labour Party chieftain Kenneth Okonkwo has reiterated that he remains a party member but rejects Julius Abure’s leadership. The party is mired in a leadership crisis, with Abure and Esther Usman both claiming control. Despite INEC’s rejection, a court ruling reaffirmed Abure as LP’s national chairman.
Labour Party chieftain Kenneth Okonkwo has reaffirmed his stance against Julius Abure’s leadership, stating that while he remains a member of the party, he does not recognize Abure as chairman. Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, Okonkwo clarified that his membership is conditional, emphasizing that he would no longer be associated with the LP if Abure retains control.
The Labour Party has been engulfed in a leadership crisis, with both Abure and the party’s caretaker chair, Esther Nenadi Usman, claiming authority. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) previously nullified Abure’s leadership due to alleged constitutional violations, prompting the appointment of Usman as interim chair in September 2024. However, in January 2025, the Court of Appeal in Abuja upheld Abure’s position, reinforcing an earlier ruling from November 2024.
Okonkwo, a former spokesperson for LP’s presidential campaign, also distanced himself from Peter Obi and the party’s 2023 presidential bid. His remarks add to the growing division within LP as members remain split over its leadership.
The crisis intensified after Governor Alex Otti convened a stakeholders’ meeting in Umuahia, attended by Obi, Datti Baba-Ahmed, and other prominent party figures. With the legal battles ongoing, the Labour Party faces an uncertain future, struggling to maintain unity ahead of upcoming political challenges.
