2027: Voting for Peter Obi is a vote for Tinubu – Kenneth Okonkwo

African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain Kenneth Okonkwo has criticized the decision of former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi to leave the ADC and join the newly formed Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), where he has been named the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 election.

Speaking in a recent interview, Okonkwo argued that the opposition must present a unified front to effectively challenge President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid. He warned that the splintering of opposition votes between platforms like the ADC and the newly established NDC ultimately benefits the incumbent administration.

“The reason I said it is that either you’re working for Tinubu directly, in other words, you’re in APC, or you’re working for Tinubu indirectly because when you divide the votes of the coalition and the opposition, you’re still making Tinubu better placed to win,” Okonkwo stated.

Okonkwo further alleged that Obi’s exit from the ADC was motivated by a reluctance to engage in a competitive primary process. He claimed that Obi had been given significant influence over the party’s internal structures before his departure, adding, “Nobody forced Peter Obi to enter ADC. He entered on his own… You can’t compete in a primary, and you want to be a politician. You want to be the president of a challenged country, and you’re running away from challenge.”

The ADC chieftain also referenced past political advice allegedly given to Obi by Senator Victor Umeh, suggesting that Obi was encouraged to pursue a political alliance between the South-East and Northern interests—a strategy Okonkwo claims Obi was resistant to.

Ultimately, Okonkwo issued a stern warning to voters considering supporting the NDC candidate, asserting, “In 2027, anybody voting any vote whatsoever to Peter Obi, you’re voting for Tinubu, and don’t say that I didn’t tell you.”