Kenneth Okonkwo, spokesperson for the Atiku Abubakar presidential campaign, has declared that opposition parties have little chance of defeating President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election unless they unite behind a single candidate.
Okonkwo, speaking during an interview with Ibeju Upgrade Media, dismissed the prospect of Peter Obi defeating Tinubu on his own, arguing that the former Labour Party presidential candidate would need the backing of a broader opposition coalition.
His comments come amid renewed efforts by opposition figures to forge a coalition capable of challenging the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.
The opposition’s previous attempt to establish a coalition faltered in 2025 after major contenders, including Obi and Atiku, emerged as presidential candidates of different political parties.
However, the G100 Opposition Coalition, led by ADC chieftain Salihu Lukman, has renewed efforts to persuade opposition parties to rally behind a single presidential candidate.
Okonkwo said a coalition remained the opposition’s only realistic path to victory, warning that Obi would struggle to defeat Tinubu without a broader political alliance.
“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,” Okonkwo said, referring to Tinubu.
He went further, arguing that Obi would struggle to secure support in Kano and other parts of northern Nigeria if he contested without a coalition.
“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.
“Kwankwaso has nothing to contribute to the ticket. Even in Kano, Kwankwaso has lost.”
Okonkwo had previously criticised Obi’s political capacity, saying in May that the former Anambra State governor lacked what it would take to address Nigeria’s challenges.
With the 2027 presidential race already taking shape, the renewed push for an opposition alliance is expected to intensify as political parties and their leading contenders position themselves for the contest.
