Former Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council spokesperson, Kenneth Okonkwo, has launched a sharp rebuke of ex-presidential candidate Peter Obi, arguing that Obi’s political setbacks are not the result of betrayal, but self-inflicted through poor judgment and missteps.
Speaking in an interview with Symfoni TV on Friday, Okonkwo dismissed the widespread narrative that Obi’s political setbacks are the result of betrayal or external conspiracies. He firmly declared that the former Anambra State governor is “committing political suicide.”
“When he said someone betrayed him, that is not true. Obi is betraying himself,” Okonkwo stated. “Nobody is destroying Obi’s political career—he is doing that to himself.”
He further argued that a truly strategic politician cannot be outmaneuvered by betrayal, indicating that Obi’s current troubles stem from personal miscalculations and poor political judgment. “Any politician who understands the game cannot be betrayed by anybody,” he said, emphasizing that Obi’s issues are symptoms of ineffective political management.
In a surprising revelation, Okonkwo alleged that if betrayal were involved at all, it was Obi who betrayed him. “If there’s anyone who has been betrayed, I can say emphatically that Peter Obi betrayed me,” he said.
Okonkwo described Obi as lacking the qualities of a good team player and an effective political strategist. He accused Obi of shifting blame outward rather than taking responsibility for his own missteps. “You’re searching for your problems outside yourself,” he lamented, pointing to what he views as a failure in leadership and accountability.
He also criticized Obi’s decision to join the Labour Party, asserting that it fundamentally altered the trajectory of his political journey and placed his destiny beyond his control. “I told him—whatever happens, the Labour Party has already happened to your political career,” Okonkwo recounted.
According to him, Obi’s decision to operate within a coalition structure undermined his political independence. “The moment you enter a coalition, your political future is no longer solely in your hands. You must now place the coalition’s interests above your own,” he explained.
Okonkwo went on to argue that the Labour Party, in its current form, is not a viable platform for a strong presidential campaign. He asserted that without a robust and well-structured coalition, Obi’s chances in the 2027 general election are bleak. “Labour Party is not presently capable of supporting a solid presidential campaign,” he said, warning that Obi could end up making no meaningful impact.
The former campaign spokesperson also accused Obi of undermining internal party discipline by failing to support Labour Party candidates. He cited a specific instance in Cross River State, where Obi allegedly endorsed a gubernatorial candidate from another political party over the Labour Party’s official flagbearer. “I went to the national office and pleaded with members not to endorse any candidate outside the party, but Obi went ahead and publicly backed someone from another party,” Okonkwo revealed.
Additionally, Okonkwo dismissed claims that Obi is being targeted by the federal government or other powerful interests. He described such claims as a false narrative propagated by Obi himself. “He is not a victim of government machinations; that’s a story he is telling to distract from the real issues,” Okonkwo asserted.
He further alleged that Obi is actively collaborating with certain elements within the Labour Party leadership, especially concerning the manipulation of primary elections.
“None of the recent primaries—from Edo to Ondo to Anambra—was conducted without Peter Obi’s approval,” Okonkwo claimed, indicating what he believes to be Obi’s deep involvement in internal party decisions.
Through his remarks, Okonkwo painted a portrait of a political figure who, in his view, has veered off course due to internal misjudgments, disloyalty, and a lack of strategic political insight.