- Kenneth Okonkwo argued that votes cast for Peter Obi in 2027 could indirectly benefit Bola Ahmed Tinubu
- He warned that a divided opposition would weaken efforts to unseat the ruling party in the next general election
- Okonkwo urged opposition forces to present a united front, saying fragmentation would strengthen the incumbent’s chances
A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, Kenneth Okonkwo, has argued that votes cast for Peter Obi in the 2027 presidential election would ultimately benefit President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Okonkwo made the remarks during an interview with Symfoni, where he criticised Obi’s political decisions and warned against what he described as the fragmentation of opposition votes ahead of the next general election.
According to him, a divided opposition would increase the chances of President Tinubu securing another electoral victory.
“It’s either you are working for Tinubu directly or indirectly because when you divide the votes of the coalition or the opposition, you are still making Tinubu win,” Okonkwo said.
The former Labour Party spokesperson also questioned Obi’s decision to leave the ADC after initially joining the party, suggesting that the move weakened efforts to build a united opposition front.
“Nobody forced Peter Obi to enter the ADC. He entered on his own, and one week to the end of the closure of time, he left and gave reasons. What reason was that?” he asked.
Okonkwo further argued that leadership requires the ability to navigate political challenges and internal party processes, including primary elections.
“You cannot compete in primaries and you want to be a president of a challenged country,” he added.
The ADC chieftain maintained that the opposition's best chance of unseating the ruling party lies in presenting a united front rather than fielding multiple strong candidates who could split votes.
“Let me tell you the truth, in 2027, anybody voting for Peter Obi is voting for Tinubu. Don’t say that I didn’t tell you,” he stated.