Kenneth Okonkwo, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has said that any votes cast for Peter Obi in the 2027 presidential election could end up benefiting President Bola Tinubu.
Speaking during an interview on Symfoni TV on Wednesday, Okonkwo argued that the opposition must come together under a single political platform if it hopes to unseat the current president in the next election.
According to him, political observers have consistently warned that a divided opposition would only increase Tinubu’s chances of securing a second term.
He explained that whether intentionally or not, opposition figures who split the anti-Tinubu vote are indirectly helping the ruling party.
“The point I was making is simple,” Okonkwo said. “You are either working for Tinubu directly by being in the APC, or indirectly by dividing opposition votes. Once opposition votes are scattered, Tinubu becomes the strongest beneficiary.”
The former Labour Party spokesperson also criticised Peter Obi’s reported decision to pull out of coalition talks within the ADC. He suggested that Obi was unwilling to take part in a competitive presidential primary.
“No one compelled Peter Obi to join the ADC,” he said. “He made that decision himself. Then, just a week before the deadline, he left and gave his reasons.”
Okonkwo questioned Obi’s readiness for the challenges of national leadership, arguing that a presidential aspirant should not shy away from internal party contests.
“You cannot avoid a primary election and still expect people to believe you are ready to lead a country facing serious challenges,” he stated. “Leadership requires the ability to confront difficult situations, not run from them.”
He further claimed that Senator Victor Umeh, who represents Anambra South, had previously expressed the view that the South-East’s best chance of producing a Nigerian president lies in forming a political alliance with leaders from Northern Nigeria.
According to Okonkwo, Umeh shared this opinion with him during discussions surrounding the ADC coalition.
“When we were all moving into the ADC, Victor Umeh told me clearly that the most realistic path for the Igbo people was to align with the North and support Peter Obi as a vice-presidential candidate,” he alleged.
Okonkwo also claimed that Umeh had discussed the idea with Obi but that the former Anambra State governor was not receptive to the proposal.
“I asked him whether he had spoken to Obi about it, and he said he had,” Okonkwo recounted. “He told me that Obi is very determined and often sticks to his own convictions regardless of the advice he receives.”
The ADC chieftain maintained that opposition supporters should think carefully about the implications of their political decisions ahead of the 2027 election, insisting that a fragmented opposition would only strengthen the ruling party.
“In my opinion, anyone who votes for Peter Obi in 2027 will ultimately be helping Tinubu’s chances,” he said. “People may disagree now, but that is the reality as I see it.”
Okonkwo’s remarks have added to the growing debate over coalition-building among opposition parties as political leaders continue to position themselves for the 2027 presidential election.
