ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Former Labour Party spokesperson Kenneth Okonkwo has praised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for what he described as his ability to recognise talent and place national interest above personal grievances, saying the former presidential candidate saw his potential despite his past criticisms.
Okonkwo made the remarks on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, barely 24 hours after he was unveiled as the spokesperson for Atiku Abubakar, the African Democratic Congress, ADC, presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.
The actor-turned-politician, who previously served as spokesperson for Peter Obi’s presidential campaign, said he severed ties with the former Anambra State governor in 2024 after concluding that Obi lacked the leadership qualities required to govern Nigeria.
According to him, he publicly announced his decision at the time to make it clear that he was no longer speaking on Obi’s behalf.
READ ALSO: 2027: Voting Obi Means Backing Tinubu – Kenneth Okonkwo
“As a public affairs analyst that I have been from 2009 before I ever met Peter Obi, I proceeded with my job. You were one of the earliest interviewers that interviewed me in July 2024 when I said I wasn’t speaking for him anymore because he’s not decisive.
“I’ve seen in him certain qualities that make him unfit to be the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I made it public. By then, I had finished my job with him. But in order for the people to know that I am not speaking for him anymore, I made it public, and I went my own way, and I was doing my own job.
“He was the one who betrayed me,” Okonkwo said.
Drawing a contrast between Obi and Atiku, Okonkwo said the former vice president ignored previous attacks against him and instead focused on his commitment to building a better Nigeria.
“I talked about Atiku Abubakar here in this studio much more than I would even talk about Peter Obi. And people were telling Atiku Abubakar, ‘This young man that is getting close to you, are you aware of what he said to you?’
“Atiku Abubakar said, ‘I am looking at this young man, I am seeing the value in him, and his tenacity to bring about a great Nigeria. That is what I am seeing. And if I have the opportunity, I will bring him in to bring that value to Nigeria.'”
Okonkwo further described Atiku as a leader with a proven ability to identify and nurture exceptional talent, citing prominent public figures whom he said benefitted from the former vice president’s confidence.
“Look at a man, a talent discoverer that discovered Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, that discovered Professor Charles Soludo, that discovered El-Rufai.
“What Atiku Abubakar is looking at is not what you said about him because he knows that his desire for Nigeria is not about him, but what value are you bringing in? I had not even done anything for Atiku Abubakar, but he insisted, ‘I’ve seen something in this young man.'”
His comments come amid an ongoing legal battle with his former principal, Peter Obi.
Okonkwo had earlier alleged that Obi and some others received bribes from aspirants seeking tickets to contest for seats in the House of Representatives.
READ ALSO: Peter Obi Lacks Leadership, Says Kenneth Okonkwo
Obi, through his legal team, denied the allegations, describing them as false and defamatory. He demanded a public apology, a retraction of the claims and N5 billion in damages.
After Okonkwo failed to comply with the demand within seven days, Obi filed a defamation suit against him at the Anambra State High Court in Onitsha in June 2026.
Reacting to the legal action, Okonkwo criticised Obi for choosing to institute the lawsuit after their political relationship had already ended, maintaining that he would defend himself through the judicial process.