Kenneth Okonkwo, spokesperson for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has criticized Peter Obi for attending the inauguration of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) presidential campaign office of Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde in Abuja.
Okonkwo made the remarks during an interview on News Central while explaining why the ADC was not represented at the event.
According to him, the inauguration was primarily an APM affair and therefore did not require the participation of ADC leaders.
He said the ADC’s absence should not be interpreted as a lack of interest in opposition politics, stressing that the party would determine where and when its officials should participate in political activities.
However, Okonkwo took a swipe at Obi and other politicians who attended the event, mocking what he described as their willingness to appear at virtually any gathering to which they were invited.
The comments followed Obi’s appearance at the launch, where the Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate expressed support for Makinde and described him as qualified to aspire to the presidency.
Obi also called for a less confrontational approach to the 2027 election, urging politicians to focus their competition on finding solutions to Nigeria’s problems rather than engaging in political quarrels.
He said Nigerians should be allowed to freely choose their preferred candidate in a credible election and that political leaders should work together after the polls, regardless of who emerges victorious.
The event brought together political figures from different opposition platforms at a time when discussions over possible alliances ahead of the 2027 presidential election are intensifying.
Makinde, who is seeking the presidency on the APM platform, is expected to face other prominent contenders, including President Bola Tinubu, Atiku and Obi.
Obi’s attendance at the campaign office inauguration has attracted attention because of the broader negotiations among opposition politicians over possible cooperation ahead of the election.
While some political actors have been advocating a united opposition front, disagreements over candidates, platforms and political strategies continue to pose challenges to the formation of a broad coalition.
Okonkwo’s remarks also highlight the differences in approach among opposition groups as they prepare for the 2027 contest.
The ADC, which is fielding Atiku as its presidential candidate, has been positioning the former vice president as a major challenger to Tinubu, while Obi is pursuing his own presidential bid on the NDC platform.
The competing ambitions have made the question of whether opposition candidates can eventually cooperate or agree on a common strategy one of the major issues in the emerging 2027 political landscape.
For now, Obi’s appearance at the APM event and Okonkwo’s subsequent criticism underscore the complex relationships among opposition figures as political activities gather momentum ahead of the election.
