Kenneth Okonkwo, a former chieftain of the Labour Party (LP) and one-time presidential campaign spokesperson, has delivered a scathing critique of Nigeria’s opposition parties, accusing them of failing to meet the expectations of the people.
Speaking on Sunrise Daily, a Channels Television program, on Friday, Okonkwo responded to recent allegations made by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar who had claimed that President Bola Tinubu’s administration was offering N50 million bribes to opposition leaders to weaken their resolve ahead of the 2027 elections.
But Okonkwo wasn’t focused on the ruling party’s alleged tactics—he was disappointed in the oppositions themselves.
“I will never blame the ruling party for anything that is happening in the opposition,” Okonkwo said bluntly.
Rather than being outraged at Tinubu’s alleged interference, Okonkwo said he was embarrassed by the opposition’s willingness to be compromised.
“I was not ashamed of the ruling party. I was ashamed of the opposition party. You are indicting the opposition, saying they are corrupt. If there is no willing receiver, there would be no available giver.”
Okonkwo argued that political destabilization is a common strategy used globally and that it is up to opposition parties to resist such attempts.
“Reject the ruling party’s offer,” he urged, stating that it is in the ruling party’s best interest to weaken the opposition. However, he stressed that accepting bribes is a choice—and one that reflects poorly on those who do.
A former member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Okonkwo has seen politics from both sides. His criticism wasn’t just about bribery; it was about a broader failure of opposition parties to provide credible alternatives for Nigerians.
“The opposition has not lived up to the expectations of the Nigerian people,” he said, calling on opposition leaders to take responsibility for their shortcomings instead of blaming external forces.