Peter Obi trapped in NDC, Kenneth Okonkwo claims, as the ADC chieftain says Atiku Abubakar remains the opposition’s chosen presidential leader
African Democratic Congress chieftain Kenneth Okonkwo has claimed that Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate Peter Obi was “lured” into the NDC and is now trapped within the political platform, during a Channels Television interview in Nigeria on Thursday, September 3, 2026.
Also read: Kwankwaso Delivers Sharp Warning to Tinubu Ahead of 2027
Okonkwo, a lawyer and spokesman for ADC presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, made the claim while arguing that Abubakar remains the leader of Nigeria’s opposition ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
His remarks add another layer to the increasingly complex realignment among opposition figures and political parties preparing for the next general election.
According to Okonkwo, opposition politicians initially came together under the ADC before Obi subsequently moved to the NDC.
He said the coalition had chosen the ADC as its political platform on July 2, 2026, with Obi among those present during the process.
“Obi left for the NDC, where he has now entered a trap because they used the NDC to lure him away,” Okonkwo said.
Okonkwo’s claim reflects the continuing disagreement among opposition figures over political leadership, party structures and the best route for challenging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.
He argued that Abubakar’s position as the opposition’s leading figure was strengthened by the coalition’s earlier decision to adopt the ADC as its platform.
“I can tell you that all the opposition candidates have come together and chosen Atiku Abubakar,” Okonkwo said.
The ADC spokesman also linked Abubakar’s recent challenge to Tinubu for a presidential debate to what he described as the former vice-president’s status as opposition leader.
“Atiku challenged Tinubu to a debate officially because he is the leader of the opposition,” Okonkwo said.
He further questioned the legal status of the NDC, claiming that the platform entered the opposition political space through a court order on December 10.
“NDC came into opposition on December 10 through a court order. Legally speaking, it’s a political association and not a party, according to the judgment of the court, and they are now appealing,” he said.
The comments are part of a broader political contest over the direction of Nigeria’s opposition ahead of 2027.
Obi, who finished third in the 2023 presidential election under the Labour Party, has remained one of the country’s most prominent opposition politicians.
His political movement has continued to attract significant attention, particularly among younger voters and supporters seeking an alternative to the established political parties.
Abubakar, a former vice-president and veteran presidential contender, also remains a major figure in the opposition.
He contested the 2023 presidential election under the Peoples Democratic Party and finished second behind Tinubu.
The emergence of new political alliances has consequently created both opportunities and tensions among opposition figures seeking to build a viable challenge to the ruling All Progressives Congress.
Okonkwo’s latest remarks suggest that disagreements over party platforms and leadership remain unresolved despite the broader desire among opposition politicians to defeat the APC in 2027.
His characterisation of Obi’s move to the NDC as a “trap” is a political assessment rather than an established fact, and representatives of Obi or the NDC would need to respond to the allegation for their position to be fully represented.
The dispute also highlights the difficulty of sustaining opposition coalitions in Nigeria, where individual political ambitions, party structures and regional support bases can complicate attempts to unite around a single presidential candidate.
For the ADC, maintaining Abubakar’s position as the preferred opposition candidate will be central to its strategy as the 2027 contest develops.
For Obi and the NDC, the challenge will be to demonstrate that the new platform can provide a credible national vehicle for his presidential ambitions.
Also read: Kwankwaso Delivers Sharp Warning to Tinubu Ahead of 2027
With the election still ahead, the rivalry between opposition camps is likely to intensify as parties seek to consolidate their structures, attract prominent politicians and persuade voters that their preferred candidate offers the strongest alternative to the Tinubu administration.
