Okonkwo: Voting for Obi in 2027 Helps Tinubu

A leader of the African Democratic Congress, Kenneth Okonkwo, has said that any vote for Peter Obi, the Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate, in the 2027 election will ultimately help President Bola Tinubu.

In an interview with Symfoni TV on Wednesday, Okonkwo said the opposition must come together under one platform to have a real chance to beat the current president.

He pointed out that political experts have warned that a split opposition will only boost Tinubu’s chances of winning a second term.

"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.

He criticized Obi for reportedly leaving the ADC coalition talks, saying the former governor of Anambra State was not ready to face a competitive primary.

"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.

The former spokesman for the Labour Party also mentioned that Anambra South Senator, Victor Umeh, had earlier suggested that the best chance for the South-East to have a president is through an alliance with northern 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.

He added that Umeh told him Obi was not open to 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.

Okonkwo urged opposition supporters to think carefully about their political choices as the general election approaches.

"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.