Why I Can No Longer Defend Peter Obi’s Lifestyle – Okonkwo

ENUGU – Kenneth Okonkwo, the former spokesperson for the Labour Party (LP) Presidential Campaign Council and current chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has officially recanted his previous public defense of the lifestyle of the 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

In a statement made available to journalists on Sunday, Okonkwo revealed that he has reconsidered his past remarks regarding the wealth and spending habits of Nigerian political leaders and their families.

The former Nollywood actor specifically recalled an incident during the 2023 election cycle when he publicly stated that no member of the Obi family could afford a luxury wristwatch valued at ₦135 million—a direct comparison to a watch worn by one of President Bola Tinubu’s sons.

“When Tinubu’s son wore a ₦135m watch, I said nobody from Obi’s family can ever wear such,” Okonkwo stated. “I made that statement based on the perception that the Obi family lived a modest lifestyle.”

However, Okonkwo now claims that new information has made it impossible for him to continue making such assertions. He cited the recent disclosures by the Anambra State Government regarding Obi’s tenure as governor, which alleged that the former governor left behind massive debts and unpaid salaries.

“I have reconsidered my previous remarks regarding the lifestyles of Nigerian political leaders and their families,” Okonkwo said. “Given the revelations about the debts and unpaid salaries allegedly left behind in Anambra, I cannot repeat that statement.”

The ADC spokesperson’s reversal marks a significant shift in the political landscape, as Okonkwo was one of Obi’s most vocal defenders during the 2023 general elections. His latest comments are expected to spark further debate regarding the financial transparency of political leaders and the ongoing war of words between the Obidient movement and the Anambra State Government.

Attempts to get a reaction from the Peter Obi media team were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.

Why I Can No Longer Defend Peter Obi’s Lifestyle – Okonkwo

Umahi’s ‘I Killed PDP’ Boast Ignites 2027 Political Firestorm

Ebonyi State – The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has ignited a political firestorm after declaring that he “killed” the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) when he defected in 2020, warning that he will “kill them again” if the party attempts to revive ahead of the 2027 general election. The PDP has hit back with equal ferocity, insisting that no individual can “kill” a registered political party, and that the ballot belongs to the people, not to any politician.

Mr Umahi made the explosive remarks during an inspection of the dualised Abakaliki–Afikpo section of the Calabar–Abuja Super Highway in Ebonyi State. In a tone that left little room for ambiguity, he declared: “I killed the PDP when I left the PDP. Whether they are alive again, if they are alive, we will have to kill them again because the PDP did not treat the people of the South-East well.” He elaborated that the South-East had long supported the PDP and voted for its presidential candidates, only to be neglected when the party had the opportunity to reward the region. “We supported the PDP, voted for the PDP presidential candidate, but when it was time for them to honour us, they did not honour us; they maltreated us. But we have hope in the APC and all APC candidates in Ebonyi State,” he said. The remarks are being widely interpreted as a political declaration aimed squarely at the 2027 elections, with Mr Umahi making clear that he would ensure the PDP does not return to power in Ebonyi State, reiterating his loyalty to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Tinubu.

Addressing his relationship with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, Mr Umahi acknowledged that the two are “good friends and brothers” but categorically denied the existence of any so-called “Rainbow Coalition” in Ebonyi State. Mr Wike has been linked to a cross-party alliance aimed at supporting President Tinubu’s re-election in 2027. “If Wike has a candidate here, he did not tell me. His candidate cannot destroy our relationship, but his candidate is not part of our relationship. There is no Rainbow Coalition in Ebonyi State,” Mr Umahi said. He warned that anyone attempting to foment crisis in Ebonyi State would be “chased out”, while noting that opposition parties are free to campaign but must not spread hate speech.

The Ebonyi State chapter of the PDP responded forcefully to Mr Umahi’s comments. In a statement issued by its Publicity Secretary, Darlington Peter Onwe, the party described the remarks as “disturbing and improper in a democratic environment”, stressing that no individual can determine the survival of a registered political party. “The PDP is a political organisation, not an individual. It cannot be killed or ‘wiped out’ by any politician,” Mr Onwe said. “Our party belongs to the millions of Nigerians who believe in democracy, constitutional governance, and the right of citizens to organise and contest elections.” The PDP demanded that Mr Umahi clarify the exact meaning of his phrase “we will wipe it out”, and called on political actors to exercise restraint ahead of the 2027 general election, urging them to avoid language that could be construed as a threat. “Elections are determined by the people, not by a politician’s declaration that he has killed or will kill a political party. The ballot belongs to the people of Ebonyi State,” the party stated.

Mr Umahi’s political trajectory is itself dramatic. He rose through the ranks of the PDP, serving as the party’s Ebonyi State chairman, deputy governor, and subsequently as governor, winning election on the PDP platform in 2015 and 2019. In November 2020, he defected to the ruling APC, citing the South-East’s unfair treatment by the PDP. He became the first sitting governor to defect from the PDP after the 2019 election. At the time, he stated explicitly that the move was a protest against the PDP’s twenty-year refusal to zone the presidential ticket to the South-East, and denied harbouring personal presidential ambitions. Now, as Minister of Works, he has become one of the most vocal defenders of the APC-led government, frequently championing the Tinubu administration’s infrastructure record and positioning himself as the South-East’s representative within the ruling party.

The exchange comes as political activity ahead of the 2027 governorship election in Ebonyi State gathers pace. The incumbent governor, Francis Nwifuru, is of the APC, and Mr Umahi has made clear he will support his re-election, stating that “there is no vacancy in Ebonyi State”. The PDP, for its part, has put forward Ifeanyi Odii as its governorship candidate. Mr Umahi’s remarks were made in response to a question about whether he would support Mr Odii. Analysts suggest that Mr Umahi’s “I killed the PDP” declaration is intended to signal to Ebonyi State voters that the PDP’s political machine in the state has been dismantled by his own hand, and that they should remain in the APC fold. The PDP’s swift rebuttal, however, indicates that the party has no intention of sitting out the 2027 contest, and is seeking to frame Mr Umahi’s comments as political intimidation in order to win voter sympathy and support.

Umahi’s ‘I Killed PDP’ Boast Ignites 2027 Political Firestorm

APC Sweeps Enugu LG Election, Wins All 17 Chairmanship, 260 Councillorship Seats

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has won all 17 local government area chairmanship seats and all 260 councillorship positions in the Enugu State local government election held on Saturday, September 26, 2026.

The results were declared on Sunday by the Chairman of the Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC), Professor Christian Ngwu, after the completion of the collation exercise.

Ngwu announced that APC candidates secured the highest number of valid votes in all 17 local government areas and were consequently returned as elected chairmen. The commission also declared APC candidates winners of the 260 councillorship positions across the state’s 260 wards.

The outcome gives the APC control of the elected leadership of all 17 local government councils and the 260 political wards in Enugu State.

The election was contested by seven political parties, with voters choosing council chairmen and councillors across the state.

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Declaring the results, Ngwu said the successful candidates had satisfied the requirements of the law and recorded the highest number of valid votes in their respective constituencies.

He congratulated the winners and urged them to regard their election as a call to duty and an opportunity to serve the people. He also commended security agencies and other stakeholders who participated in the electoral process.

The declaration followed an election that recorded low voter turnout in several parts of the state. Reports from Enugu metropolis indicated that only a small number of voters were present at some polling units, while electoral materials arrived late at some locations.

The election also took place under significant movement restrictions. The state government and security agencies had restricted vehicular and human movement across Enugu on election day as part of measures to maintain security and ensure a peaceful exercise. Essential workers, accredited election officials and other authorised persons were exempted from the restriction.

Security agencies had also deployed personnel across the state’s 17 local government areas and 260 wards ahead of the election, while political parties, candidates and their supporters were urged to avoid electoral malpractice and actions capable of disrupting the exercise.

The 2026 result marks a change from the previous Enugu local government election held on September 21, 2024, when the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won all 17 chairmanship seats and all 260 councillorship positions.

With ENSIEC’s declaration and the presentation of certificates of return, the commission has concluded the announcement of the Enugu LG election results, confirming the APC’s sweep of the state’s 17 councils and 260 wards.

APC Sweeps Enugu LG Election, Wins All 17 Chairmanship, 260 Councillorship Seats