Kenneth Okonkwo
A prominent member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Kenneth Okonkwo, has cautioned that votes cast for former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, in the 2027 presidential election could ultimately benefit President Bola Tinubu.
Speaking during an interview on Symfoni TV on Wednesday, Okonkwo stressed that the opposition must rally around a common platform if it hopes to mount a serious challenge against the ruling party in the next general election.
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According to him, a divided opposition would only make it easier for Tinubu to secure another term in office.
He argued that any action capable of splitting opposition votes, whether intentional or otherwise, would work in favour of the incumbent president.
“If opposition forces are fragmented, the outcome is predictable. Whether directly or indirectly, dividing the opposition vote only improves Tinubu’s chances of victory,” he said.
Okonkwo also faulted Obi’s reported exit from coalition talks involving the ADC, alleging that the former Labour Party presidential candidate was unwilling to subject himself to a competitive primary election process.
He maintained that Obi joined the coalition discussions voluntarily and later withdrew before critical decisions were reached.
“No one compelled Peter Obi to join the ADC. He made that decision himself. If you aspire to lead a country facing enormous challenges, you should be prepared to participate in a democratic contest rather than avoid it,” he stated.
The former Labour Party spokesman further claimed that Senator Victor Umeh had previously suggested a strategic alliance between political interests in the South-East and the North as a practical pathway to the presidency for the region.
According to Okonkwo, Umeh had expressed concerns that Obi was reluctant to embrace such political advice.
He alleged that when he asked whether Obi had been informed of the strategy, Umeh responded that the former governor preferred to pursue his own approach.
Reiterating his position, Okonkwo urged opposition supporters to carefully consider the political implications of their choices ahead of the 2027 election.
“In my view, any vote cast for Peter Obi in 2027 could end up helping Tinubu remain in office. People should think seriously about the consequences of a divided opposition,” he said.
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