Former spokesperson of the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Kenneth Okonkwo, has declared that any vote cast for the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, in the forthcoming 2027 general election would ultimately work in favour of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, President Bola Tinubu.
Okonkwo made the assertion during an interview with Symfoni TV on Wednesday, where he stressed the need for opposition parties to unite behind a single platform if they hoped to unseat the incumbent president.
According to him, a fragmented opposition would only strengthen Tinubu’s chances of securing a second term in office.
“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 said.
The ADC chieftain criticised Obi’s reported withdrawal from coalition discussions within the party, alleging that the former Anambra State governor was unwilling to participate in a competitive primary election.
“Nobody forced Peter Obi to enter ADC. He entered on his own, and one week to the end of the closure of the time, he left and gave the reason.
“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,” he said.
Okonkwo also referenced discussions he claimed to have had with Anambra South Senator, Victor Umeh, regarding the South-East’s prospects of producing Nigeria’s president.
According to him, Umeh had suggested that the region’s best chance would be through a strategic alliance with northern political leaders.
“When we were all entering ADC, Victor Umeh made it clear and spoke to me directly that the only chance the Igbo people have is to align with the North and for our brother Peter Obi to be a vice president,” Okonkwo claimed.
The former Nollywood actor further alleged that Umeh had informed him of Obi’s reluctance to accept such political advice.
“I told him, ‘Have you told Obi?’ He said yes, but that Peter Obi is very stubborn. That if you tell him anything, he would not believe but would continue to try,” Okonkwo said.
Maintaining his position on the need for opposition unity, Okonkwo urged voters to carefully consider the implications of their political choices ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
“Let me tell you the truth, 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,” he stated.
