A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Kenneth Okonkwo, has called on President Bola Tinubu to resign from office instead of waiting to contest the 2027 presidential election.
Okonkwo made the remarks on Friday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily while commenting on the Court of Appeal judgment that overturned an earlier Federal High Court ruling seeking to deregister the ADC.
He alleged that actions taken against opposition parties were aimed at frustrating political competition and creating an advantage for the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, ahead of the 2027 elections.
According to him, the President’s performance in office does not justify seeking another term.
Okonkwo cited the country’s security challenges as one of the major reasons for his position, pointing to recurring attacks and killings in several parts of Nigeria.
He argued that governments should be judged by their ability to prevent the loss of lives rather than merely responding after attacks have occurred.
The former presidential spokesperson also shared a personal experience involving one of his workers, whose mother was reportedly kidnapped in Kaduna State.
He claimed the kidnappers demanded a huge ransom and allegedly broke two of the victim’s fingers when the family could not meet their demands.
Okonkwo said the incident reflected the broader security challenges facing many Nigerians, noting that numerous cases never receive public attention.
He maintained that, in his view, President Tinubu should step down peacefully rather than seek re election in 2027.
