Kenneth Okonkwo, a spokesperson for Atiku Abubakar’s presidential campaign, has said the Nigerian opposition would need to consolidate its political strength to stand a realistic chance of defeating President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
Speaking during an interview with Ibeju Upgrade Media shared on YouTube on Thursday, Okonkwo maintained that an opposition coalition remained the most viable route to challenging the ruling All Progressives Congress.
His comments came amid continuing disagreements among opposition figures over how best to approach the 2027 presidential contest.
Okonkwo argued that Peter Obi, despite his strong performance in the 2023 election, would not be able to defeat Tinubu if he contested without a wider alliance.
He pointed to Kano and other parts of northern Nigeria as areas where he believes Obi would face significant electoral challenges.
According to Okonkwo, the 2023 election demonstrated that Obi could not rely on his individual popularity to secure victory across the country.
He also played down the political value of Rabiu Kwankwaso to the opposition ticket, claiming that the former Kano governor had lost some of his political influence even in his home state.
Obi is the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, with Kwankwaso serving as his running mate, according to the material provided.
Okonkwo insisted that the opposition must put aside individual ambitions if it wants to present a formidable challenge to Tinubu.
“Coalition is the only way out,” he said, arguing that defeating an incumbent president would require a broad political alliance rather than separate candidacies.
The opposition’s attempts to establish a unified platform faced setbacks in 2025 as prominent political figures, including Atiku and Obi, moved forward with separate political arrangements.
Okonkwo’s latest comments therefore add to the ongoing debate over whether Nigeria’s opposition can overcome its internal differences before the 2027 presidential election.
His assessment represents his political position and does not establish the eventual outcome of the 2027 election.
