Former Labour Party chieftain Kenneth Okonkwo has emphasized the need for a coalition among opposition parties ahead of the 2027 presidential election, warning that no single candidate can defeat President Bola Tinubu without a united front.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Okonkwo said that neither Peter Obi nor Atiku Abubakar would be able to unseat President Tinubu individually. According to him, failure to unite would make Tinubu’s re-election an easy victory.
“The 2027 election will be a stroll in the park for President Tinubu if the opposition fails to come together,” Okonkwo said. He cited the 2015 election as an example, where former President Goodluck Jonathan was defeated through a strong opposition coalition backed by political elites.
“No single candidate can beat him alone by whatever name you are called. And the reason is, in Nigeria, we have entered into the unfortunate reality that you will not only have to win but also secure your victory,” he explained. “You need the elites to secure your victory, even if the people vote for you.”
While discussions about a coalition often center around Obi and Atiku, Okonkwo noted that it is uncertain whether either will eventually emerge as the flagbearer of any political merger.
“As we are moving to 2027, I know that there will be a coalition, whether it be between Peter Obi or Atiku, I don’t know, but there will be a coalition,” he said. “If there is no coalition, Tinubu is unbeatable.”
Okonkwo, an actor-turned-lawyer, remains confident that collaboration among opposition forces is the only viable strategy to contest and potentially overturn the current political dominance of the All Progressives Congress.
