Kenneth Okonkwo, spokesman for African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, has claimed that Peter Obi was “lured” out of the ADC into the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), describing the move as a political trap.
Okonkwo made the claim during an interview with Channels Television on Thursday, while also insisting that Atiku remains the leader of Nigeria’s opposition ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
According to the lawyer, Atiku’s recent challenge to President Bola Tinubu to a public debate was made in his capacity as opposition leader.
“Why did I say that Atiku is the leader of the opposition? 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.
He alleged that Obi’s subsequent move to the NDC placed the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate in a difficult political position.
“Obi left for the NDC, where he has now entered a trap because they used the NDC to lure him away,” he said.
Okonkwo also questioned the NDC’s legal status, claiming that the party entered the opposition on December 10 through a court order and that, under the judgment, it is currently a political association rather than a fully recognised political party. He said an appeal against the judgment is ongoing.
The ADC spokesman further claimed that opposition figures had already agreed on Atiku as their presidential candidate.
“I can tell you that all the opposition candidates have come together and chosen Atiku Abubakar,” he said.
The comments highlight the growing political tensions within Nigeria’s opposition camp ahead of the 2027 election, particularly over which political platform should carry the opposition’s presidential challenge to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
