Peter Obi has proven he can’t secure people’s mandate if voted for – Okonkwo

Former spokesman for the Labour Party presidential campaign council Kenneth Okonkwo has said the party’s candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has proven he cannot secure the people’s mandate if voted into office.

Okonkwo, who said this in a statement he shared on his X account, stated that he no longer has confidence that Obi has what it takes to build a party that can defeat the current government.

“Above all, he (Obi) has proved that even if the people vote for him, he doesn’t have what it takes to secure the mandate.”

He said he used to believe Obi would seize the momentum and build a solid party of integrity with the base needed to come to power.

“I received my first shock when he publicly declared that he didn’t promise Nigerians to build a strong Labour Party, but to solve Nigeria’s problems. I was like, does it mean HE Peter Obi is not aware that without a solid party base, we are heading nowhere politically? However, I continued in his defense, believing he would still privately bring the needed solution to LP’s problems, to no avail.

“PO also publicly demanded that the Abure-led National Working Committee must organise an all-inclusive convention that will guarantee the participation of all members of Labour Party in the choice of their leaders.

“This didn’t happen, and surprisingly, PO refused to disassociate himself from the shenanigans and criminal activities of the former NWC as their time had expired. Every member of Labour Party is confused today as to the future of Labour Party because of lack of leadership from PO over the party, and unfortunately, when they look up to me to tell them about PO’s standpoint, I sincerely have nothing to tell them because I don’t know myself.

“I cannot continue to speak on behalf of a leader whose stand on issues of great importance I do not know. I simply don’t know how to manipulate facts.”

The Nollywood star noted that what is happening in Labour Party today has inspired in him a determination to chart a new course for his political journey.

He said he is free to embark on negotiation and consultation with like-minded people to determine the next step in his political journey, which does not include joining the All Progressives Congress (APC) or People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for now, but includes, and is not limited to, the consolidation of Labour Party.