Kenneth Okonkwo, spokesperson for African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, has criticised Peter Obi’s decision to pursue his 2027 presidential ambition under the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
Okonkwo claimed that Obi was “lured” away from an opposition coalition that had earlier settled on the ADC as its political platform, arguing that the former Labour Party presidential candidate may now be politically isolated.
He made the remarks during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily while discussing the emerging opposition realignment ahead of the 2027 general election.
According to Okonkwo, several opposition figures, including Obi, participated in discussions that culminated in the selection of the ADC as the coalition’s platform on July 2, 2026.
He said Obi later chose a different political path by moving to the NDC.
“The opposition came together to form a coalition, and they chose the ADC on July 2, 2026, and all of us were there, including Peter Obi,” Okonkwo said.
“Obi left for the NDC, where he has now entered a trap because they used the NDC to lure him away,” he added.
Okonkwo also questioned the legal status of the NDC, saying the party entered the opposition through a court order and remains, according to his interpretation of the judgment, a political association rather than a fully recognised political party. He noted that an appeal is ongoing.
The remarks highlight the divisions emerging among opposition figures seeking to challenge President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
Okonkwo further maintained that Atiku remains the leading figure of the opposition and pointed to the former vice president’s recent challenge to Tinubu for a presidential debate.
However, Okonkwo’s claim that Obi was deliberately “lured” into a trap is a political assessment and has not been independently established. Obi and the NDC may offer a different interpretation of their decision.
Obi was the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, while Atiku contested under the Peoples Democratic Party. Their current positions in separate opposition camps could become a major factor in determining whether anti-APC forces can unite ahead of the 2027 presidential contest.
As political alliances continue to shift, the ability of opposition leaders to consolidate their supporters and avoid splitting votes is expected to remain central to the 2027 election debate.
