Former spokesperson for the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council, Kenneth Okonkwo, has said that only a united front of Nigeria’s top political elites can successfully challenge President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.
Okonkwo, a staunch supporter of Peter Obi, emphasized that no single presidential candidate stands a realistic chance of defeating Tinubu without broad-based alliances.
He made these remarks during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Sunday.
While acknowledging the possibility of a Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar alliance, Okonkwo stressed the importance of the current coalition efforts being spearheaded by Atiku and former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai.
“No individual candidate can unseat Tinubu alone, regardless of their name,” he said.
“In Nigeria today, it’s not enough to win at the polls; you must also be able to secure your victory. That’s why the support of influential elites is crucial. Without their backing, it will be impossible to protect a win, even with popular votes.”
He drew parallels to the 2015 general elections when the unity of political elites helped secure victory against then-President Goodluck Jonathan.
Citing Nelson Mandela’s famous quote, “It always seems impossible until it’s done,” Okonkwo predicted that a coalition would emerge before 2027, though he couldn’t confirm whether it would involve Obi and Atiku specifically.
“At this rate, if the opposition does not unite, Tinubu will be unstoppable. Without a coalition, he will easily secure re-election,” he added.
Responding to questions about his disassociation from Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Okonkwo described the president as an agent of “anarchy,” citing recent political controversies in Lagos State.
He referred to the reinstatement of Lagos Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, noting that despite 14 Assembly members voting for his removal — a move allegedly backed by the state governor — Obasa was restored after Tinubu’s intervention.
“Tinubu has a history of sowing anarchy wherever he goes. In Lagos, despite the House voting to remove Obasa, a single directive from Tinubu overruled the wishes of 14 lawmakers. That’s not democracy; that’s anarchy,” Okonkwo argued.
He insisted that Obasa’s return to office was not due to any court ruling but rather the political influence wielded by Tinubu, further highlighting what he described as a breakdown of legislative independence under the current administration.