Kenneth Okonkwo, a lawyer and member of a newly formed opposition coalition, has stated that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) is the only legitimate opposition party in Nigeria.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Friday, Okonkwo claimed that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP) are effectively defunct, existing “just on paper” because their key leaders have aligned with either the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) or the ADC.
Okonkwo, who previously served as a spokesperson for Peter Obi’s 2023 presidential campaign, pointed to the public support of prominent PDP leaders, such as former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, for candidates from other parties.
“If the leaders of the PDP have come out openly to say they are supporting the presidential candidate of another political party, that’s the end of the party,” he stated.
He also criticised the LP, arguing that it lacks the necessary structure to be a viable contender in the 2027 presidential election.
The ADC was adopted as the platform for a broad opposition coalition on July 2, 2025.
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This alliance includes several high-profile political figures from various parties, such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Obi, former Senate President David Mark, and former ministers Rauf Aregbesola and Rotimi Amaechi.
When asked about the possibility of the ADC adopting Obi as its presidential candidate for the 2027 election, Okonkwo stated that the party would hold a “democratic, free, fair presidential primary election.”
He added that the party would back whoever emerges as the candidate to challenge President Bola Tinubu, framing the 2027 election as a contest between the Nigerian people and the APC, with the ADC as the viable alternative.
Tinubu and the APC have dismissed the opposition coalition.
On June 25, 2025, during a visit to Nasarawa State, Tinubu referred to those forming the coalition as “political IDPs,” or internally displaced persons, urging his supporters to ignore them.
He expressed confidence that his administration would prevail against any opposition alliance.
