Spokesperson for African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, Kenneth Okonkwo, has defended former Labour Party vice-presidential candidate Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed following his recent criticism of leading 2027 presidential contenders.
Okonkwo suggested that Baba-Ahmed may be experiencing what he described as a “post-political identity crisis” following his experience working with former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi during the 2023 presidential election.
Speaking on Arise TV’s Daybreak, Okonkwo said many people entered Obi’s political movement in 2023 with high expectations that it would usher in a new direction for Nigeria.
According to him, the movement attracted supporters who were primarily motivated by what they could contribute rather than what they could gain.
However, Okonkwo blamed what he described as the “incompetence and incapacity” of Obi for the eventual crisis within the Labour Party, which he said left some members disillusioned.
“After working with Peter Obi, you run the risk of suffering that,” Okonkwo said, referring to what he termed a post-political identity crisis.
He argued that supporters had been willing to provide resources and support but expected effective leadership in return.
Okonkwo also referenced Datti Baba-Ahmed’s statement that he could no longer do anything for Obi after the Labour Party experience, interpreting it as evidence that the former vice-presidential candidate had lost confidence in Obi.
“After what happened in Labour Party, I lost confidence in him. I was there with him,” Okonkwo said.
The comments come as political alignments and disagreements intensify ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
