Chieftain of the Labour Party, Kenneth Okonkwo, has addressed speculations surrounding his political allegiance, asserting that he did not defect from the All Progressives Congress (APC) but rather resigned from the ruling party.
The veteran Nollywood actor turned politician emphasized that the distinction lies in the nature of the transition, stating that defection implies a move from one party to another, whereas he simply resigned from the APC and joined the Labour Party ahead of the 2023 general elections.
Expressing discomfort with the term “defection,” Okonkwo clarified, “I’m always not very comfortable with the word ‘defection’. I resigned from the APC and joined Labour Party. You defect when you move from a party to another.
“Let’s say you are a member of the National Assembly; and in Nigeria, you must be a member of a political party to run for office or there won’t be any chance for you to resign. In that circumstance, you can defect.
“But when you resign and join another party, that’s not defection,” Okonkwo disclosed.
Noteworthy is Okonkwo’s association with Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the previous election. Known for his outspoken critique of Chief Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the APC government.