Kenneth Okonkwo Urges Tinubu, Atiku, and Obi to Step Aside for 2027 Presidential Election

Kenneth Okonkwo, a former Labour Party (LP) member, has called on President Bola Tinubu, Peter Obi, and ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race.

The Nollywood star-turned-politician, who previously served as a spokesman for the LP’s 2023 presidential campaign, made this assertion during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today.

Okonkwo, who once backed Obi’s bid for the presidency, has now distanced himself from the former Anambra governor, urging him, along with Tinubu and Atiku, to step aside for new contenders in the forthcoming election.

“I said it, and I stand by it. In Nigeria, you don’t just win an election; you must fight to secure your mandate. Leadership should not be taken lightly,” he stated.

The actor-turned-politician also emphasized that his association with Obi was a thing of the past, maintaining that whatever transpired in 2023 should remain in that year.

On Tuesday, Okonkwo formally announced his resignation from the Labour Party, effective February 25, 2025, citing internal discord within the party. He insisted his decision was based on principle.

A former member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Okonkwo dismissed any possibility of returning to the ruling party, accusing it of failing to tackle Nigeria’s pressing challenges.

“I resigned from APC on principle,” he reiterated, adding that only one condition could make him reconsider rejoining the party—though he did not disclose what that condition was.