Former Labour Party spokesman and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Kenneth Okonkwo, has claimed that casting a vote for the NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi in the 2027 general election would, in effect, strengthen President Bola Tinubu’s chances of re-election.
Okonkwo made the statement during an interview on Symfoni TV on Wednesday, where he stressed that the opposition must present a united front if it hopes to unseat the incumbent president, Bola Tinubu.
He argued that a fragmented opposition would only serve to consolidate Tinubu’s electoral advantage, warning that divided votes would weaken any serious challenge to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“Whether directly or indirectly, anyone who splits the opposition vote is helping Tinubu’s chances of winning,” he said.
The actor-turned-politician also faulted Obi’s reported exit from ongoing coalition discussions within the ADC, alleging that the former governor was unwilling to go through a competitive primary process.
According to him, Obi initially joined the coalition voluntarily but exited shortly before the deadline for participation expired.
“Nobody forced Peter Obi into ADC. He came in willingly and left just before the process closed,” Okonkwo said.
He further argued that participation in primaries is a basic requirement of democratic politics, insisting that aspirants who avoid such contests are not prepared for leadership in a complex country.
Okonkwo also referenced comments allegedly made by Anambra South Senator, Victor Umeh, claiming the lawmaker had advised that the South-East stands a better chance of producing a president through political alignment with northern stakeholders.
He said Umeh had suggested that the region’s strongest route to power might be to support a northern alliance with Obi serving as vice president, though he added that Obi was reportedly unwilling to accept such arrangements.
Concluding his remarks, Okonkwo cautioned opposition supporters to think strategically ahead of the 2027 election, insisting that any vote not consolidated behind a single strong candidate would ultimately favour the current administration
“In 2027, any vote outside a united opposition structure is, in reality, a vote for Tinubu,” he said.