Former spokesperson for Peter Obi, Kenneth Okonkwo, has launched a fresh attack on the former Anambra State governor following his exit from the African Democratic Congress coalition ahead of the 2027 elections.
Speaking during an interview on Symfoni TV’s Niger Unfiltered, Okonkwo claimed he had long predicted that Obi would eventually dump the ADC, alleging that the former Labour Party presidential candidate brought “toxicity” into the coalition.
According to him, Obi’s political style was characterized by instability, internal conflict and an alleged fear of transparent party primaries.
“By nature, chaos follows him. Immediately they came in, toxicity entered ADC,” Okonkwo said during the interview.
The actor-turned-politician disclosed that he warned coalition leaders from the very first strategic meetings not to build the ADC around Obi because he was convinced the former presidential candidate would eventually leave the party.
“I told them from the first strategic meeting not to build anything on Peter Obi because he was not going to contest under ADC. I knew he would still leave,” he stated.
Okonkwo further alleged that Obi was uncomfortable with participating in a free and fair presidential primary, insisting that ADC leaders had already given him major concessions to ensure transparency in the process.
According to him, individuals loyal to Obi were allegedly placed in strategic positions connected to party registration and the organization of primaries.
The former Obi ally also dismissed claims that legal disputes within the ADC forced the former Labour Party candidate out of the coalition.
Obi had cited internal crisis, factional disputes and a toxic political atmosphere as reasons for distancing himself from the party.
However, Okonkwo argued that the legal issues Obi referenced already existed before he joined the ADC coalition.
“The same legal challenges existed before he came into ADC. So he cannot now claim that was the reason he left,” he said.
He also accused Obi’s supporters of creating division and hostility within the coalition, claiming that ADC experienced tension only after Obi’s camp joined the alliance.
“The coalition was united before he came. The toxicity started after his supporters entered the party,” Okonkwo alleged.
The lawyer and politician went further to claim that Obi’s decision to leave the coalition could indirectly benefit President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and weaken opposition efforts ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
“If anybody goes alone in 2027, that person is working for Tinubu,” he declared.
Okonkwo maintained that the ADC would remain strong despite Obi’s exit, expressing confidence that the coalition would produce its presidential candidate through a transparent democratic process.
The latest comments add to growing tensions within Nigeria’s opposition movement as political parties and coalition groups continue strategic alignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.
