Kenneth Okonkwo, spokesperson for the African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has declared that the former vice-president remains on course to contest and win the 2027 presidential election, despite the legal and leadership challenges currently confronting the opposition party.
Okonkwo maintained that efforts by the ruling All Progressives Congress to frustrate Atiku’s presidential ambition would ultimately fail. He drew parallels with the events leading up to the 2007 presidential election, when former President Olusegun Obasanjo allegedly deployed state powers to prevent his then-deputy from participating in the race.
In a post shared on X on Tuesday, the ADC chieftain said the mounting political pressure and legal battles surrounding the opposition party had only reinforced his belief that Atiku would emerge as Nigeria’s next president.
He wrote, “The more the incompetent and corrupt APC tackles ADC, and the more they try to block Atiku Abubakar from contesting for the post of President in 2027, the more I am convinced that Atiku Abubakar is the next President of Nigeria because you do not cast a stone at a tree that is not bearing any fruit.”
Recalling the political confrontation between Obasanjo and Atiku ahead of the 2007 general election, Okonkwo argued that similar attempts to frustrate the former vice-president’s ambition had failed in the past. He expressed confidence that Atiku would overcome the current challenges through legal means.
“APC should learn from history, and understand that Atiku is unstoppable. President Olusegun Obasanjo did everything possible, with all the powers of the security apparatus, to stop Atiku, his Vice President, from contesting the 2007 presidential election, but failed,” he stated.
He further maintained that Atiku’s previous victory in the legal battle against attempts to exclude him from the 2007 race demonstrated his ability to overcome political obstacles, expressing optimism that the former vice-president would secure victory in 2027.
“Atiku succeeded through the rule of law by ventilating his agitation through the courts. This time around in 2027, Atiku will win again because God and the people of Nigeria are on his side.”
Okonkwo also dismissed suggestions that the ADC’s internal leadership crisis could prevent Atiku from participating in the next presidential election. He insisted that both the former vice-president and the party would appear on the ballot and secure victory.
“Let me reiterate, Atiku and ADC will be on the ballot in 2027 and will win the 2027 presidential election for the security and welfare of Nigerians,” he added.
His latest comments follow allegations he made days earlier against Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja, whom he accused of being used to weaken opposition parties through judicial decisions.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television on Saturday, November 7, Okonkwo alleged that the court’s decision to nullify the David Mark-led leadership of the ADC was politically motivated and intended to frustrate Atiku’s 2027 presidential ambition.
He claimed the ruling was part of a broader plan to remove the ADC and its presidential hopeful from the electoral contest, thereby creating an opportunity for President Bola Tinubu to seek re-election without a strong opposition challenge.
The ADC spokesperson also raised concerns about the handling of the party’s leadership dispute, alleging that Justice Lifu had previously attracted criticism from the Court of Appeal over his conduct in another matter involving the National Forum of Former Legislators, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and four political parties.
Okonkwo referenced what he described as the appellate court’s assessment of the judge’s conduct, citing the expressions “judicial rascality” and “judicial impertinence”.
“The Court of Appeal recognised by its judgement that the judge is known to display judicial rascality and judicial impertinence,” Okonkwo said.
He further questioned why the ADC leadership dispute was transferred from the court presided over by Justice Emeka Nwite, where the matter had initially been heard, to Justice Lifu’s court.
Describing the transfer as questionable, Okonkwo alleged that judicial processes were being manipulated to advance political interests rather than guarantee justice.
“The target here is Atiku Abubakar. The target here is ADC, trying to use the judiciary to achieve political motives, not to uphold justice,” he said.
Addressing the substantive leadership disagreement, Okonkwo challenged the legal basis of Nafiu Bala Gombe’s position in the dispute. Bala, a former national officer of the ADC, has contested the party’s leadership arrangement.
According to Okonkwo, Bala was involved in the processes that culminated in the dissolution of the former National Working Committee and the establishment of the David Mark-led leadership. He claimed that the ADC National Executive Committee approved the new leadership arrangement on July 29, 2025, at a meeting attended by INEC representatives after the commission had received the mandatory 21-day notice.
On that basis, Okonkwo argued that Bala could not legitimately challenge a leadership arrangement he allegedly participated in approving.
He also criticised the court for making decisions with implications for ADC members seeking elective positions, particularly Atiku, who he said was not directly involved in the proceedings.
The former actor and ADC chieftain argued that making orders capable of affecting Atiku’s political ambition without allowing him to participate in the case amounted to a breach of the constitutional principle of fair hearing.
“How can you make an order that affects Atiku Abubakar when he was not a party to the case? The natural law of fair hearing has already been breached,” he said.
Okonkwo concluded by insisting that the ADC’s internal leadership disagreement should not deprive party members of their political rights, particularly those who have indicated their preference for Atiku as their presidential candidate in the 2027 election.
