Kenneth Okonkwo, Spokesperson to former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, has said the African Democratic Congress (ADC) is the only credible platform capable of uniting Nigeria’s opposition ahead of the 2027 general election.
Okonkwo made the remarks during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, broadcast on Thursday, September 3, 2026. The interview, titled “Obasanjo Vs Atiku: What Atiku Told Me Regarding OBJ’s Third Term Re-Election – Okonkwo,” is available on [YouTube].
Speaking on the political realignment ahead of the election, Okonkwo said the opposition had converged on the ADC as its preferred platform following consultations held on July 2, 2026.
“All opposition parties and leaders came together on 2 July 2026 to endorse ADC as the party they will adopt for the 2027 general election,” he said.
He argued that the National Democratic Congress, or NDC, could not presently be regarded as a political party, insisting that its status, as determined by the courts, was that of a political association.
According to him, the development effectively leaves the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the ADC as the two major political platforms in contention for the 2027 presidential election.
“NDC, as presently determined by the court, is a political association, not a political party,” Okonkwo said. “There are only two main parties in contest for the 2027 election—APC and ADC.”
The ADC chieftain also defended Atiku against corruption allegations, claiming that the former vice-president had been cleared of corruption-related accusations both within Nigeria and abroad.
“Atiku Abubakar has been exonerated from any corruption allegations, both locally and internationally,” Okonkwo said.
He did not, during the portion of the interview reviewed, identify specific court judgments or international investigations forming the basis of the claim.
The allegation remains a political assertion by Atiku’s spokesperson and should be distinguished from independently verified findings by relevant courts or investigative authorities.
Okonkwo further criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s disputed age narrative. He said there was no “definite, ascertainable, believable, and written declaration” that conclusively established the president’s age.
As a result, he said, Tinubu’s age could only be discussed as an opinion based on his physical appearance.
“You can only cite Tinubu’s age from his looks since there’s no definite, ascertainable, believable, and written declaration of his age,” Okonkwo said, adding that that the President appeared to him to be a man aged over 90.
The comment is an observation rather than documentary evidence of the president’s age. It is also likely to renew political controversy over the issue, which has featured prominently in public debate and opposition criticism.
Okonkwo’s comments come after his appointment as Atiku’s spokesperson ahead of the 2027 election. His new role has placed him at the centre of the ADC’s communications strategy as opposition figures seek to build a unified challenge to the APC.
The former Labour Party campaign spokesperson previously worked with Peter Obi during the 2023 presidential election but has since moved into Atiku’s political camp.
He has become increasingly critical of Obi and other opposition figures who are not part of the ADC coalition.
His latest remarks suggest that the opposition’s strategy will focus on consolidating support around one political platform rather than allowing multiple parties to split the anti-APC vote.
However, the strength and durability of the claimed alliance remain subject to further negotiations, candidate selection and the formal positions of the parties and political leaders involved.
