A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Kenneth Okonkwo, has attributed recent criticism of Peter Obi by his former running mate, Yusuf Datti Baba Ahmed, to what he described as a “post political identity crisis” following their experience in the 2023 presidential election.
Okonkwo made the remarks on Tuesday while appearing on ARISE Television’s Daybreak, where he reacted to recent comments by Baba-Ahmed about Obi and the 2027 presidential race.
Baba Ahmed was recently quoted as saying that none of the major contenders for the 2027 presidency, including the former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has the capacity to transform Nigeria.
“None of the people contesting will improve Nigeria, including Peter Obi,” Baba-Ahmed reportedly said.
Reacting to the statement, Okonkwo, who serves as spokesperson for the ADC presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, said he understood the former vice presidential candidate’s position because of their shared experience during the 2023 campaign.
“I understand why he made his comment about Peter Obi, because we were in the same trenches together, and I can tell you that he may be suffering from what I call a post-political identity crisis,” Okonkwo said.
The Nollywood actor-turned-politician recalled the optimism that surrounded the Obi-Baba-Ahmed ticket during the 2023 presidential election, saying many supporters joined the movement because they believed it represented an opportunity to pursue a different political direction for Nigeria.
According to Okonkwo, the political movement was distinct from conventional campaigns because many of its supporters were driven by a desire to contribute to the country rather than personal or material benefits.
He suggested that the collapse or weakening of the political structure that sustained the 2023 campaign could have contributed to Baba-Ahmed’s current disillusionment with Obi.
Okonkwo’s comments come amid growing political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections, with major political figures and parties positioning themselves for a potentially competitive presidential contest.