Coalition’s 2027 Presidential Ticket Open to All Regions – Kenneth Okonkwo

Kenneth Okonkwo, a key member of the newly formed opposition coalition seeking to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections, has announced that the coalition’s presidential ticket will be open to aspirants from both the North and South. Okonkwo, a lawyer and former spokesperson for Peter Obi in the 2023 elections, made this known during an appearance on *Sunday Politics* on Channels Television.

He stressed that the coalition will not zone the ticket to any specific region, emphasizing inclusivity and merit. “Nobody is going to stop anybody from contesting for the presidential ticket in the coalition, nobody,” Okonkwo said.

When asked about the political balance in light of President Muhammadu Buhari’s eight years in office followed by Tinubu’s presidency, Okonkwo proposed a single six-year term to address the concerns of power rotation and performance. He argued that relying on zoning alone can lead to complications, especially if a president underperforms midway through their term. “If you get another Southerner, he is going to stay there for eight years. The North will say no, this is injustice… So, the best is to throw it open. When the best comes in, every other person will support him and the person will promise to do four years,” he explained.

Okonkwo reiterated his position that he does not support former Vice President Atiku Abubakar or Peter Obi emerging as the candidate of the new alignment. Responding to reports suggesting Obi felt betrayed by his departure, Okonkwo denied any disloyalty. “When I worked for him, I never consulted any politician, I never talked with any political party, I was 100 percent loyal… I said from now onwards, I am not going to speak for this person again,” he said.

Criticizing the current administration, Okonkwo described Tinubu’s government as the worst in Nigeria’s history, even worse than that of Buhari. He particularly condemned the floating of the naira, calling it a “terrible thing to do,” and argued that Tinubu should have prioritized policies that would boost exports over imports to support the currency.

Meanwhile, the National Opposition Coalition Group (NOCG), which includes prominent political figures such as former Minister of Transport Rotimi Amaechi, has applied to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register its newly formed political party, the All Democratic Alliance (ADA). The coalition is chaired by former Senate President David Mark.