BY SEGUN ADEBAYO – Popular Nollywood Actor and Chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Barrister Kenneth Okonkwo, strongly believes that all supporters of former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, will officially join the growing opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
This is as he argued that any of Obi’s loyalists who will still remain outside the ADC fold can no longer claim to be a true member of the ‘Obidient’ Movement.
Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, following Obi’s recent defection to the ADC as part of an opposition coalition, Okonkwo said matter-of-factly that any supporter of the 2023 Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) not in ADC already is ‘DisObidient’
According to him, Obi has now made it clear that his supporters should register as ADC members, describing any refusal to do so as obvious disobedience.
He said: “When I was in the Labour Party, I said it was a tactical mistake telling your followers they can join all political parties. I’m very glad that my brother, Peter Obi, has changed the tactic.”
Further referencing an interview Obi granted on X Space, Barrister Okonkwo said the former governor had directed his supporters to align with the ADC.
“He said all the Obidients should go and register as members of the ADC. So if you are an Obidient and you’re not in the ADC, sorry, you’re not an Obidient, you are a disObidient,” he stated.
Okonkwo, who is a member of the ADC National Working Committee, lauded the party’s internal processes, and described it as a platform built on democratic values, adding: “Anybody you see in the ADC is allowed to get into the ADC on one condition: you must be a true democrat.
“One thing ADC will not compromise on is internal democracy and living on the tenets of democracy.”
The Lawyer cum politician also said ADC deliberately discouraged conditional entry in order to strengthen its foundation, saying: “No leader, no opposition leader was allowed to give conditions before entering because we want to exercise discipline.
“That is why everybody took their time to come to ADC, because we want that foundation to be solid”, he said while further claiming that the South-East zone has already thrown its weight behind the ADC coalition.
Warning that politicians in the zone who chose other platforms were indirectly supporting the ruling party, the NWC member said: “Now, the South East has gone ADC. Any other politician who is not in the ADC, who wants to do any other party, is working for Tinubu”
Okonkwo, who applauded Obi’s defection, said the ADC was yet to take a position on zoning its presidential ticket but pledged to support whoever emerges from the party’s primary election.
“He is an ADC member. We work with every ADC member,” he said. “Rest assured, whoever emerges as the presidential candidate of the ADC, I will work for the person.”
