A prominent member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Kenneth Okonkwo, has warned that supporters of Peter Obi could inadvertently strengthen President Bola Tinubu’s chances of securing a second term if they back the former Anambra State governor in the 2027 presidential election.
Speaking during an interview with Symfoni TV on Wednesday, Okonkwo stressed the need for Nigeria’s opposition parties to unite under a single platform if they hope to defeat the incumbent president. He argued that a divided opposition would only improve Tinubu’s prospects at the polls.
According to him, any move that splits opposition votes ultimately works in favour of the ruling party.
“The reason I said it is that either you’re working for Tinubu directly, meaning you are in the APC, or you’re working for him indirectly. When you divide the votes of the coalition and the opposition, you make Tinubu better positioned to win,” Okonkwo said.
The former Labour Party spokesperson also criticised Obi’s reported withdrawal from coalition talks within the ADC, alleging that the former presidential candidate was unwilling to participate in a competitive primary election process.
“Nobody forced Peter Obi to join the ADC. He joined voluntarily, but just a week before the deadline, he left and gave his reasons. You cannot avoid a primary election and still expect to lead a country facing serious challenges. If you want to be president, you must be ready to face competition,” he stated.
Okonkwo further claimed that Senator Victor Umeh had previously advocated for a political alliance between the South-East and northern political interests as the region’s most realistic path to producing a president.
He alleged that Umeh had informed him that Obi was reluctant to embrace such advice.
“I asked him, ‘Have you discussed this with Obi?’ He said yes, but described Peter Obi as very stubborn. According to him, Obi often chooses to follow his own path regardless of the advice given to him,” Okonkwo claimed.
Reiterating his position, Okonkwo urged opposition supporters to carefully consider the implications of their choices ahead of the 2027 election.
“Let me tell you the truth: in 2027, anyone who votes for Peter Obi is indirectly voting for Tinubu. Don’t say I didn’t tell you,” he said.
