Veteran Nollywood actor and Labour Party chieftain, Kenneth Okonkwo, has publicly declared his refusal to recognize Julius Abure’s leadership within the party. Speaking on Channels Television’s ‘Sunrise Daily’ on February 7, 2025, Okonkwo stated, “I am a member of the Labour Party, but not under Julius Abure. If Abure manages to wangle himself in and becomes the National Chairman, it is automatic.”
This declaration comes amid ongoing internal strife within the Labour Party. In July 2024, Okonkwo announced his departure from the party, citing disagreements with its leadership. However, he later clarified that his resignation was specifically in opposition to Abure’s chairmanship, reaffirming his commitment to the party under different leadership.
The Labour Party has been embroiled in a leadership crisis, with both Julius Abure and a caretaker committee led by Esther Nenadi Usman claiming leadership. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) previously invalidated Abure’s leadership, citing constitutional and electoral violations during the national convention. In response, a 29-member caretaker committee was appointed on September 4, 2024, following a stakeholders’ meeting convened by Abia State Governor Alex Otti in Umuahia.
Despite these developments, the Court of Appeal in Abuja affirmed Abure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party in a judgment delivered on January 17, 2025. The court ruled that its earlier decision in November 2024, recognizing Abure’s chairmanship, remains valid and has not been overturned.
Okonkwo’s stance highlights the deepening divisions within the Labour Party as it grapples with ongoing leadership disputes.
