2027: “Working With Peter Obi Can Cause Post-Political Identity Crisis” — Kenneth Okonkwo

Kenneth Okonkwo, spokesperson for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, has suggested that individuals who worked closely with Peter Obi could experience what he described as a “post-political identity crisis.”

According to Ireporter Online, Okonkwo made the remark while reacting to comments by Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, the former Labour Party vice-presidential candidate, regarding the capacity of leading presidential contenders ahead of the 2027 election.

Baba-Ahmed had reportedly expressed doubts about the ability of major candidates, including Obi, to bring about significant change in Nigeria.

Speaking during an interview on Arise TV’s Daybreak on Tuesday, Okonkwo defended Baba-Ahmed and suggested that his experience working with Obi during the 2023 presidential election may have influenced his current position.

The former Nollywood actor-turned-politician said members of Obi’s 2023 political movement entered the campaign with strong expectations of achieving a new political direction for Nigeria.

Okonkwo said the movement attracted supporters who were primarily motivated by what they could contribute to the political project rather than what they expected to gain from it.

However, he argued that the subsequent developments within the Labour Party left some participants disillusioned, which he attributed to what he described as Obi’s “incompetence and incapacity” to manage the party’s affairs.

“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.

He recalled that many people involved in the 2023 campaign believed they were participating in the emergence of a new political order and were willing to provide resources and support for the movement.

According to him, the major expectation from supporters was effective leadership, adding that disappointment followed when they believed that expectation was not met.

Okonkwo further referenced Baba-Ahmed’s earlier statement that he could no longer assist Obi following the Labour Party experience.

He interpreted the remark as an indication that the former vice-presidential candidate had lost confidence in Obi after the events surrounding the party.

“That was why in his own words, he said after Labour Party, he couldn’t do anything again for Peter Obi. In other words, after what happened in Labour Party, I lost confidence in him. I was there with him,” Okonkwo said.

The comments come amid renewed political exchanges among former members and associates of the 2023 Labour Party presidential campaign as political activities ahead of the 2027 general election intensify.