A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Kenneth Okonkwo, has said the departure of former presidential candidate Peter Obi from the party placed the South-East at a political disadvantage and created uncertainty during the process that produced former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi as the party’s vice-presidential candidate.
Speaking on recent developments within the opposition party, Okonkwo said Obi’s exit altered the political calculations of the ADC and weakened the bargaining position of the South-East in the negotiations that preceded the selection of the party’s presidential ticket for the 2027 general election.
According to him, Peter Obi’s presence in the party had given many supporters in the South-East confidence that the region would play a central role in the party’s national strategy. However, his departure created a leadership vacuum that affected consultations and realignments within the party.
Okonkwo noted that the uncertainty surrounding Obi’s decision to leave the ADC generated confusion among party faithful and supporters across the South-East, many of whom had expected the former Anambra State governor to remain a key figure in the party’s future.
He argued that the subsequent emergence of former Minister of Transportation and ex-Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi as the ADC’s vice-presidential candidate reflected the political adjustments made after Obi’s exit.
The ADC chieftain maintained that while every political party has the right to choose its candidates through internal democratic processes, the South-East lost a significant opportunity to consolidate its influence within the party following Obi’s departure.
Okonkwo also stressed the importance of building inclusive political platforms capable of accommodating Nigeria’s diverse regional interests. He said national unity and political stability would be better served when all geopolitical zones feel adequately represented in the leadership structures of major political parties.
His comments come amid continued political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections, with opposition parties seeking to strengthen their structures through strategic alliances and coalition-building.
Political analysts say Obi’s exit from the ADC reshaped the opposition landscape and prompted fresh negotiations among party leaders over zoning arrangements, ticket balancing and regional representation.
The development has attracted mixed reactions from political observers and party supporters. While some agree with Okonkwo’s assessment that the South-East lost political leverage following Obi’s departure, others argue that political influence depends more on sustained grassroots mobilisation and effective coalition-building than on the presence of a single political figure.
Supporters of the ADC leadership have defended the party’s nomination process, insisting that the emergence of its candidates reflected internal consultations and constitutional procedures. They maintain that the party remains committed to promoting national inclusion and providing Nigerians with a credible alternative in the next general election.
Meanwhile, supporters of Peter Obi continue to insist that his political decisions were guided by broader strategic considerations aimed at advancing his vision for national development. Since leaving the ADC, Obi has continued his political activities on a different platform, further reshaping the country’s opposition dynamics ahead of 2027.
As preparations for the next election gather momentum, analysts expect debates over zoning, regional representation and coalition politics to remain central to Nigeria’s political discourse, with parties seeking to build broad-based alliances capable of attracting support across the country’s diverse regions.
