The spokesperson for the Atiku Abubakar presidential campaign, Kenneth Okonkwo, has said opposition parties must unite under a broad coalition if they hope to defeat President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
Okonkwo argued that no single opposition candidate, including the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, would be strong enough to defeat Tinubu without the backing of other major political forces.
He made the remarks during an interview with Ibeju Upgrade Media, which was shared on YouTube on Thursday.
According to him, the fragmentation of opposition votes could give Tinubu an advantage in the 2027 contest, making a coalition the most realistic strategy for the opposition.
“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, apparently referring to Tinubu.
Okonkwo also dismissed the possibility of Obi defeating the President if he decides to contest the election alone, arguing that the former Anambra State governor would struggle to secure support across some key regions.
“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 further questioned the political strength of Rabiu Kwankwaso, saying the former Kano State governor had also lost some of his influence.
“Kwankwaso has nothing to contribute to the ticket. Even in Kano, Kwankwaso has lost,” Okonkwo added.
Obi is the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, while Kwankwaso is his running mate on the party’s ticket.
Efforts by opposition parties to form a coalition in 2025 faced several setbacks as major opposition figures, including Atiku and Obi, eventually emerged as presidential candidates of different parties ahead of the 2027 election.
Okonkwo had also criticised Obi in May, saying he lacked the capacity to lead the country and accusing him of avoiding difficult challenges.
