By Uzair Adam
A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Kenneth Okonkwo, has argued that any vote cast for former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi in the 2027 election would ultimately work in favour of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election.
Speaking during an interview on Symfoni TV, Okonkwo said the opposition must unite behind a single candidate if it hopes to defeat the incumbent president in the next general election.
According to him, a divided opposition would only increase Tinubu’s chances of securing another term in office.
“Whether directly or indirectly, anyone dividing opposition votes is helping Tinubu. When coalition and opposition votes are split, it places Tinubu in a stronger position to win,” he said.
Okonkwo also criticised Obi’s reported withdrawal from coalition discussions within the ADC, alleging that the former Anambra State governor was unwilling to participate in a competitive primary election.
“Nobody compelled Peter Obi to join the ADC. He joined voluntarily, but just a week before the deadline, he withdrew and explained his reasons.
“You cannot avoid a primary election and still expect to lead a country facing serious challenges. Leadership requires confronting challenges, not running away from them,” he stated.
The former Labour Party spokesperson further claimed that Senator Victor Umeh had previously suggested that the South-East’s best chance of producing a Nigerian president would be through a political alliance with northern leaders.
“When we were joining the ADC, Victor Umeh told me clearly that the best opportunity for the Igbo to produce a president was to align with the North, with Peter Obi serving as vice president,” Okonkwo alleged.
He further claimed that Umeh had informed him that Obi was not receptive to such advice.
“I asked him if he had discussed it with Obi. He said yes, but described Obi as stubborn, saying he would rather continue pursuing his own approach,” Okonkwo added.
Reiterating his position, Okonkwo urged opposition supporters to carefully consider the implications of their choices ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
“To be clear, anyone voting for Peter Obi in 2027 is indirectly voting for Tinubu. Remember that I said this,” he maintained.
His remarks come amid ongoing consultations and coalition talks among opposition parties and political stakeholders seeking a united front ahead of the 2027 presidential contest.
