A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, Kenneth Okonkwo, has taken a swipe at Peter Obi, questioning his readiness for the presidency over his reported decision to exit coalition talks within the party.
Speaking during an interview with Symfoni TV on Wednesday, Okonkwo argued that anyone seeking to lead Nigeria must be prepared to confront political challenges, including participating in a competitive primary election.
The former Labour Party spokesman alleged that Obi withdrew from the ADC coalition process despite voluntarily joining it, insisting that presidential ambition demands resilience and a willingness to face difficult contests.
“Nobody forced Peter Obi to enter ADC. He entered on his own, and one week to the end of the closure of the time, he left and gave the reason.
“You can’t compete in a primary, and you want to be a politician. You want to be the president of a challenged country, and you’re running away from challenge,” he said.
Okonkwo maintained that aspiring to govern a country facing complex economic, political and security issues requires the capacity to navigate tough situations rather than avoid them.
His remarks add to the growing debate over opposition coalition efforts and the political calculations ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
