Politics

LP crisis: Stay away from Abure-led NWC, they will scam you – Kenneth Okonkwo warns Nigerians

Published

2 years ago

July 23, 2024

Kenneth Okonkwo

Veteran Nollywood actor and politician Kenneth Okonkwo has urged everyone to avoid the Julius Abure-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the Labour Party (LP).

Okonkwo said people would be scammed of their hard-earned money if they followed the Abure-led NWC, which he described as a bunch of ill-fated liars.

In a post on his X handle on Monday, the veteran actor dismissed a statement by the NWC of the Labour Party that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) didn’t reject its last convention.

He said: “My attention has been drawn to the updated lies of the rejected purported Abure-led NWC of Labour Party, signed by one Obiorah Ifoh, to the tune that INEC didn’t reject their crooked convention. A look at the letter will reveal that the writer neglected, failed, and refused to include the dates they purported to notify INEC of the changes in the venue.

“This is because they knew that the notice was inadequate and consequently by Section 82(5) of the Electoral Act was void. INEC didn’t attend because they were not legally notified to attend, not that they opted not to attend.

“Also, the Labour Party members or their duly elected delegates were not allowed to vote for their preferred candidates in the purported convention in accordance with Section 82(3) of the EA, making the convention void for not being all-inclusive as required by law.

“Everyone knows that they didn’t organise ward, local, or state congresses before the purported convention. INEC was right in rejecting the illegal convention, and they remain perpetually rejected.

“I wish to advise everyone to stay clear of these bunch of ill-fated liars as they will be scammed of their hard-earned money if they follow them.”

Recall that Okonkwo had distanced himself from the Julius Abure-led National Working Committee of the Labour Party.

He said he couldn’t continue with a corrupt and incompetent NWC led by Abure.

The Nollywood veteran expressed strong condemnation of the national convention organised by Abure, saying it was rife with criminality and corruption.

According to him, “Nothing can wash out the criminality, corruption, and incompetence with which the purported National Convention was purportedly organised by Abure.

“I did not leave the comfort of a ruling party, APC, because I believe that they are incompetent and dishonest, only to come and join another incompetent and corrupt association, which is the current Abure-led National Working Committee of Labour Party.”

Politics

Hon Success Opara Wishes ST Peter Women Ikenegbu a Blessed Mothering Sunday

Published

9 hours ago

March 8, 2026

Ekwutos Blog

In a heartwarming gesture, Hon Success Opara, former councilorship candidate for Ikenegbu Ward 2, has shown love and appreciation to the women of ST Peter Anglican Church, Ikenegbu, on the eve of Mothering Sunday.

The visit was a wonderful opportunity to bond and celebrate the selfless love of mothers in the community.

Opara, who worships at ST Peter’s, took time to fellowship with the women, sharing words of encouragement and praying for their well-being.

His gesture is seen as a testament to his commitment to uplifting and empowering women.

The ST Peter women appreciated his thoughtful gesture, wishing him continued success in his endeavors.

Politics

‘I get excited when we make law that angers opposition’ – Akpabio

Published

10 hours ago

March 8, 2026

Ekwutos Blog

President of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio says when the opposition expresses anger over any law made in the Senate, he gets excited.

Akpabio spoke on Saturday in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, while addressing the audience in reception of the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.

According to him, anger from the opposition signals to him that the right law has been made.

He declared that opposition figures threatening to boycott the 2027 presidential election are just not ready for the contest.

He said, “Each time we make a law and the opposition frowns, I get excited that I’ve made the right law”.

“Yesterday I saw one man shouting on TV because of the Amended Electoral Act, saying we’re likely to boycott elections.

“My response was tell the truth, you’re boycotting the elections because you’re not ready. If you are ready you won’t boycott.”

Politics

NASS: Nigerian society oppressive to women, we’re not allowed to speak – Kingibe

Published

11 hours ago

March 8, 2026

Ekwutos Blog

Federal lawmaker, representing the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, in the Senate, Ireti Kingibe, has said that the six special seats for women in the Nigerian Senate will not change anything.

According to her, the Senate will still remain overwhelmingly male-dominated.

She lamented that reducing the special seats to 6 does not solve the problem, adding that it does not fundamentally change representation or the balance of voices in the Senate.

Ireti, who is the Chair, Senate Committee on Women Affairs, pointed out that until there are deliberate measures to increase women’s representation, the situation would remain the same.

Speaking on Arise News, the lawmaker was asked whether the political setting in Nigeria is not rather too hostile for women.

She said, “No, it’s only because the men choose to make it so. In the National Assembly, outspoken men are described as just outspoken. Outspoken women like me are described as troublesome.

“Now I’ve even asked some men to define what the difference is between an outspoken female parliamentarian and why do you describe them differently? Now, the gender equal opportunity bill has gone to first reading. I’ve been struggling for it to go to second reading.

“Whenever I lobby some of my colleagues, especially the older ones, it is ‘why do you need that? Does it not contravene the Constitution?’ I said no, the Constitution says 50% and I’m asking you to enforce 35%.

“Now even the special seats the Senate insisted that from 37 they cut it down to six. Now, let me just give you theoretically, there are four female senators in the Senate right now, let us assume that two do not return, when you add six to them, please, what’s the difference? Eight senators.

“And I tried to make that argument that six is inconsequential. It does not change the narrative of anything. In fact, I will also tell you that even in the Senate, when you have four women, yes, you cannot spread four women across everything but lots of times you set up an ad-hoc committee of 20 people, sometimes there’s no woman on it.

“And at the end of the day, I believe that until we, the countries that are not gender inclusive, have penalties internationally, things are not going to change.

“They have started some of the penalties right now in a lot of the International parliaments, any country that does not have a woman, sometimes two women on his delegation, depending on the number of delegates, cannot vote its full votes.

“Nigeria is unlikely to comply, because the men have this reactionary attitude that is more cultural than even religions. Because countries like UAE, Saudi Arabia, all those ones that are Muslim countries, they’ve left us all behind and Nigeria is supposed to be even a secular state.

“So I do not see the reason, except that we have a society that is oppressive to women. Sometimes you want to say something. You’re not allowed to speak unless you make a fuss. How then do you get this country to develop without the voice of 50% of its population?

“We do have a problem. I am also waiting to see that, will we actually pass this bill before the 10th Assembly finishes? I remember that even after we do, we still need 24 state assemblies to agree.”