Rita Odafe
Kenneth Okonkwo, who previously served as a spokesperson for the Obi/Datti campaign, has criticized the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for its current challenges.
He pointed out that the party’s leadership seems to have become subordinate to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Okonkwo specifically mentioned that Nyesom Wike’s appointment by President Bola Tinubu has diminished the PDP’s role as a credible opposition.
Wike, a notable former governor and PDP stalwart, took on a ministerial role under Tinubu after actively opposing his party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, during the 2023 elections.
In an appearance on Channel Television’s Sunrise Daily program on February 7, 2025, Okonkwo asserted that the PDP leadership is now dependent on Wike, whom he accused of collaborating with the APC.
He remarked, “Take a look at the situation in the PDP. Some individuals, known as the G5, openly undermined the party’s interests, and instead of holding them accountable, the party accommodated and excused their actions.
“By accepting this behavior, it escalated; now they want to dominate the party after receiving appointments… They will aim to control the party, leading to true party members becoming subservient because their leader is now effectively serving the APC as a minister, which means the PDP is now under the influence of the APC.”
Regarding Atiku’s allegation that the APC bribed opposition parties to create unrest ahead of the 2027 elections, Okonkwo criticized him, suggesting that such claims reflect poorly on the opposition rather than the ruling party.
He stated that the APC should not be blamed for allegedly bribing opposition groups, asserting it is within the party’s rights to use strategies to weaken its rivals.
“I will not hold the ruling party accountable for issues within the opposition. They are merely responding to the political environment. I found Atiku Abubakar’s comments regarding the APC providing N50m to opposition parties shameful for the opposition. It implies that these parties are corrupt. If there are susceptible parties, there will be parties willing to offer bribes. It’s a valid tactic for political entities,” he noted.
He urged opposition parties to acknowledge their failures and stressed that Atiku’s remarks highlight their incompetence and corruption.
“The opposition has not fulfilled the public’s expectations; they need to take ownership of their failures and strive to correct their mistakes. They must reject the ruling party’s attempts to destabilize them as it serves the APC’s interests. Their susceptibility to destabilization underscores their incompetence and corruption,” Okonkwo concluded.
