A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, Kenneth Okonkwo, has said former Labor Party presidential candidate Peter Obi may struggle to gain broad support across the South-East ahead of the 2027 elections.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television on Thursday, Okonkwo criticized the “Obi or nothing” slogan often associated with some of Obi’s supporters, describing it as contrary to Igbo cultural values.
“First of all, that slogan is an abomination culturally in Igbo land,” he said.
According to him, the Igbo philosophy of “Somadina” promotes collective success rather than individual dominance.
“Somadina means that I will not be the only person that will thrive. I will not be the only person that will succeed,” he explained.
Okonkwo referenced the political relationship between late nationalist Nnamdi Azikiwe and former Vice President Alex Ekwueme during the 1979 elections, arguing that Igbo leaders historically embraced alliances and coalition politics.
He stated that Azikiwe understood that South-East votes alone would not be enough to secure the presidency and therefore pursued broader political cooperation.
“And somebody here is telling me Obi or nothing? That is an abomination in Igbo land,” Okonkwo added.
The lawyer also criticized the recent defection of Obi and former Kano State governor Rabiu Kwankwaso from the ADC to the Nigeria Democratic Congress.
According to him, both politicians abandoned coalition discussions and moved parties because they were unwilling to face primary elections.
Okonkwo further accused some of Obi’s supporters of being “toxic followers” and admitted he once belonged to that political movement during the 2023 elections.
“I was. Why did I leave?” he said while explaining that he initially backed Obi because he wanted a South-East candidate to emerge as president.
He added that he became disillusioned after the 2023 election outcome and the prolonged legal battle that followed.
“After winning the election, what happened? He could not secure his own victory,” he said.
Peter Obi and Kwankwaso officially defected from the ADC to the Nigeria Democratic Congress earlier this month amid ongoing realignments within the opposition ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
