Spokesman for the Atiku Abubakar presidential campaign, Kenneth Okonkwo, has said opposition parties will need to form a coalition if they hope to defeat President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
Okonkwo also dismissed the chances of Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Peter Obi, defeating Tinubu if he contests without a broader opposition alliance.
He made the remarks during an interview with Ibeju Upgrade Media.
According to Okonkwo, Obi would struggle to build enough support across the country, particularly in northern Nigeria, even if he were to run with former Kano State governor Rabiu Kwankwaso.
Okonkwo said a coalition remained the only option for opposition parties, arguing that defeating Tinubu would require a united effort.
He also referred to Tinubu’s earlier comment that political power was not taken “à la carte” but had to be fought for, saying the opposition would need to adopt a similar approach.
Okonkwo argued that Obi’s performance in northern Nigeria would remain a major obstacle if he contested against Tinubu without a wider alliance.
He said Obi was unlikely to secure enough support in Kano and other parts of the North, noting that the Labour Party candidate had failed to win the state in the 2023 presidential election.
Okonkwo also dismissed the electoral value of Kwankwaso as a potential running mate, claiming that the former Kano governor had lost his political influence even in his home state.
He said,
“Coalition is the only way out. So you don’t come down with a man who has told you from the beginning that power is not taken à la carte; you fight for it, you grab it, you snatch it, you run away with it,” he said, referring to Tinubu.
“So, if Peter Obi goes against Tinubu alone, Tinubu will eat him like biscuits. Will Kano people accept Peter Obi? In 2023, when we had the opportunity, they did not accept him. In 2027, they will not accept him,” he said. He also questioned the electoral value of Kwankwaso as a potential running mate. “Kwankwaso has nothing to contribute to the ticket. Even in Kano, Kwankwaso has lost.”
His comments come amid renewed efforts by opposition figures to build a coalition ahead of the 2027 presidential election, as parties and political leaders explore possible alliances against the ruling party.
