Veteran actor and Labour Party chieftain Kenneth Okonkwo has launched a blistering critique of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over its handling of the 2027 presidential zoning arrangement.
In a candid and controversial statement on August 31, 2025, Okonkwo dismissed PDP’s zoning declaration as an elaborate deceit designed to undermine true democratic choice.
His comments add fuel to the already heated debate about Nigeria’s fragile political zoning system and electoral integrity.
What PDP Claimed vs. Reality, According to Okonkwo
Kenneth Okonkwo branded PDP’s zoning policy as a “fraudulent gesture” rather than genuine zoning.
He argued the party’s maneuver was not aimed at fairness or justice but rather to manipulate outcomes in favor of select elites.
According to him, the so-called zoning is nothing more than political theatrics, deceiving the Nigerian people while sidelining genuine aspirants.
Okonkwo pointed out that PDP’s claim to honor zoning ignores critical details and historical facts about power rotation in Nigeria.
He labeled the party’s actions as “cunning political trickery,” designed to maintain entrenched interests rather than open the field for real competition.
The Deception Undermines Public Trust in Democracy
By branding PDP’s zoning as deceptive.
Okonkwo tapped into growing public skepticism about the Nigerian political establishment’s commitment to democracy.
Many Nigerians feel zoning practices reduce political participation to ethnic and regional bargaining rather than merit-based contests.
Okonkwo’s statements reflect widespread frustration with a system perceived as breeding corruption, ethnic favoritism, and political exclusion.
He warned that this “false zoning” threatens to deepen division and disenfranchise millions of voters, especially those outside the favored geo-political zones.
The actor-politician called for reforms to ensure that political power distribution prioritizes fairness and national unity over ethnic and party interests.
Labour Party’s Stand for Transparency and Fair Competition
Okonkwo, a spokesperson for the Labour Party.
Framed his criticism in the context of his party’s commitment to transparency and inclusive politics.
He reiterated the need for free and fair primaries where candidates compete for votes rather than ethnic quota guarantees.
The Labour Party taps into a growing desire among Nigerians for a break from elite-dominated political gamesmanship.
He urged Nigerians to reject political “games” played under the guise of zoning and to demand candidates chosen on competence and vision rather than region or tribe.
Okonkwo’s message came as the battle lines are being drawn ahead of the 2027 elections.
With major parties gearing up for a fierce contest.
The Historical Context and Political Stakes
Nigeria’s political zoning system, roughly designed to rotate the presidency among the country’s six geo-political zones.
Emerged from a need to manage ethnic diversity and tensions.
However, critics argue that zoning has now morphed into a tool for political manipulation.
Often weaponized by ruling parties to exclude contenders inconvenient to their plans.
Okonkwo underscored this misuse, noting how zoning sometimes becomes a smokescreen for preselected candidates or deal-making among political godfathers.
His stance resonates with many who believe the PDP’s zoning policy is less about equity and more about power consolidation.
PDP’s Silence and Political Fallout
This lack of engagement raises questions about the party’s confidence in its zoning policy and ability to defend its political strategies.
Okonkwo’s remarks have inflamed tensions within Nigerian politics, creating a new line of conflict between opposition forces and entrenched elites.
His outspoken critique has been praised by some reform-minded activists but condemned by others as overly divisive amid fragile national unity.
The Broader Implications for Nigeria’s 2027 Elections
The controversy over zoning illustrated by Okonkwo’s comments exposes deeper problems facing Nigeria’s 2027 elections.
The country risks repeating cycles of ethnic mistrust and regional antagonism if political power-sharing arrangements are perceived as unfair or deceptive.
The demand for meritocracy and genuine democratic processes is gaining traction among voters.
Threatening the dominance of traditional political elites and their manipulation of zoning norms.
Okonkwo’s voice symbolizes this emerging push for a new political culture centered on accountability and inclusivity.
A Call for Genuine Democratic Reforms
His call for transparency, fairness, and inclusive democracy echoes the hopes of many Nigerians for a political system that transcends ethnic and regional divisions.
As the 2027 elections approach.
The challenge will be whether Nigerian political actors heed these calls or fall back into old patterns of manipulation and exclusion.
Okonkwo’s message underscores the urgent need for reforms that rebuild trust and strengthen democracy in Nigeria.
