Kenneth Okonkwo says Atiku Abubakar valued him while accusing Peter Obi of betrayal during a Channels Television interview
Kenneth Okonkwo, a Nollywood actor-turned-politician and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, on 2 July 2026 said former Vice President Atiku Abubakar recognised his value, while accusing former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi of betrayal during a televised political interview.
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Okonkwo made the remarks during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, a day after he was appointed as spokesperson for Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress.
The politician said his working relationship with Peter Obi ended in 2024 after he concluded that Obi lacked the decisiveness required to lead Nigeria at the highest level.
“As a public affairs analyst that I have been from 2009 before I ever met Peter Obi, I proceeded with my job,” Okonkwo said during the interview.
He added that he had already publicly announced his decision to step away from Obi’s camp to avoid confusion over his political alignment.
“I was one of the earliest interviewers that interviewed me in July 2024 when I said I wasn’t speaking for him anymore because he’s not decisive,” he said.
Okonkwo further stated that his decision to move on was based on personal assessment rather than external pressure, insisting that his role as a public commentator remained independent.
“I’ve seen in him certain qualities that make him unfit to be the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.
He also claimed that Peter Obi was the one who betrayed him, although he did not provide specific details of the alleged incident during the interview.
Okonkwo’s comments come amid shifting political alignments ahead of the 2027 general elections, as key figures reposition within emerging opposition structures and alliances.
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The controversy adds another layer to Nigeria’s evolving political landscape, where endorsements and defections continue to shape public debate ahead of the next election cycle.
