Only opposition coalition can defeat Tinubu in 2027 — Kenneth Okonkwo

The spokesperson for the Atiku Abubakar presidential campaign, Kenneth Okonkwo, has said opposition parties must form a coalition if they hope to defeat President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election. Okonkwo made the remarks during an interview with Ibeju Upgrade Media, shared on YouTube on Thursday, while dismissing the possibility of Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, unseating Tinubu without a broader opposition alliance. He argued that a united opposition remains the strongest path to defeating the President, following setbacks suffered by efforts to form a coalition in 2025. Those efforts were complicated by major opposition contenders, including Atiku Abubakar and Obi, emerging as presidential candidates of different political parties ahead of the 2027 election. According to Okonkwo, the opposition cannot afford to approach the contest separately if it wants to challenge Tinubu effectively.

Okonkwo said, “Coalition is the only way out,” arguing that opposition politicians must recognise the nature of the contest and work together. He said Obi would not be able to defeat Tinubu on his own, particularly questioning whether the former Anambra State governor could secure sufficient support in Kano. Referring to the 2023 election, Okonkwo said Kano voters did not accept Obi when there was an opportunity and claimed the situation would remain the same in 2027. He also dismissed the potential contribution of Rabiu Kwankwaso to the opposition ticket, saying, “Kwankwaso has nothing to contribute to the ticket. Even in Kano, Kwankwaso has lost.” Obi is the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, while Kwankwaso is his running mate on the party’s ticket. Okonkwo had also criticised Obi in May, saying he lacked the capacity to lead Nigeria and arguing that he avoided difficult challenges.

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