Kenneth Okonkwo, spokesperson for the Atiku Abubakar presidential campaign, has argued that opposition parties must unite under a coalition if they hope to defeat President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
Okonkwo made the assertion during an interview with Ibeju Upgrade Media, published on YouTube on Thursday.
According to him, the opposition would struggle to unseat Tinubu if major contenders decide to contest the election separately.
He specifically dismissed the possibility of Peter Obi defeating the President on his own, insisting that the opposition’s strongest strategy is to present a united political front.
“Coalition is the only way out,” Okonkwo said while discussing the prospects of the opposition ahead of the 2027 election.
He also referred to Tinubu’s earlier remarks about political power, arguing that defeating the President would require a serious and coordinated political effort.
Okonkwo further questioned Obi’s electoral prospects in parts of northern Nigeria, particularly Kano, recalling the outcome of the 2023 presidential election.
He said Obi and the Labour Party would face difficulties if the former Anambra governor contested against Tinubu without the backing of a broader opposition coalition.
Okonkwo also criticised Rabiu Kwankwaso, who is currently Obi’s running mate on the Nigeria Democratic Congress ticket, saying he did not believe Kwankwaso would add enough strength to the opposition ticket.
The comments come after earlier efforts by opposition politicians to form a coalition encountered difficulties, with leading figures eventually emerging on different platforms ahead of the 2027 election.
Okonkwo had also criticised Obi in May, questioning the former Anambra governor’s capacity to lead the country and accusing him of avoiding difficult political challenges.
With the 2027 election approaching, the possibility of opposition parties and politicians working together remains a major issue in Nigeria’s evolving political landscape.
