Voting for Peter Obi in 2027 Amounts to Voting for Tinubu, Says Kenneth Okonkwo
Former spokesperson of the Labour Party and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Kenneth Okonkwo, has argued that supporting Peter Obi in the 2027 presidential election would ultimately work in favour of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Okonkwo made the assertion during an interview on Symfoni TV on Wednesday, where he stressed the need for opposition parties to unite behind a single candidate if they hope to unseat the incumbent president in the next general election.
According to him, the fragmentation of opposition votes among multiple candidates would only improve Tinubu’s chances of securing a second term in office.
He argued that political actors who refuse to align with a broad opposition coalition are, whether intentionally or not, strengthening the ruling party’s position ahead of the election.
“The reason I said it is that either you’re working for Tinubu directly, in other words, you’re in the 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 stated.
The ADC chieftain also criticized Obi’s reported withdrawal from ongoing coalition discussions involving opposition parties, alleging that the former Anambra State governor was unwilling to participate in a competitive primary election process.
According to Okonkwo, leadership requires the ability to confront political challenges rather than avoid them.
“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 further referenced comments allegedly made by Victor Umeh, claiming that the senator had suggested that the South-East’s best opportunity to produce a Nigerian president would be through a strategic alliance with northern political interests, with Obi potentially serving as vice president.
He maintained that opposition forces must prioritize unity and collective strategy over individual ambitions if they are serious about achieving a change of government in 2027.
Concluding his remarks, Okonkwo warned opposition supporters that a vote for Obi outside a united opposition framework could inadvertently aid Tinubu’s re-election bid.
“Anybody voting any vote whatsoever to Peter Obi, you’re voting for Tinubu, and don’t say that I didn’t tell you,” he declared.
His comments are expected to further fuel ongoing debates within opposition circles over coalition-building, candidate selection, and the strategy required to challenge the ruling APC in the 2027 presidential election.
