No Single Candidate Can Defeat Tinubu in 2027, Says Kenneth Okonkwo

Former Labour Party chieftain Kenneth Okonkwo has emphasized the need for a united opposition ahead of the 2027 presidential election, warning that no single candidate can defeat President Bola Tinubu on their own. Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Okonkwo said neither Peter Obi nor Atiku Abubakar, two of the most prominent opposition figures, could win against Tinubu without forming a coalition.

He argued that unless the opposition parties work together, the 2027 election would be an easy victory for President Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress. Drawing parallels with the 2015 election, Okonkwo recalled how former President Goodluck Jonathan was defeated only after opposition forces, backed by the elite, came together to support Muhammadu Buhari’s candidacy.

“No single candidate can beat him alone, by whatever name you are called. In Nigeria, we have reached a stage where not only must you win, but you must also secure your victory,” Okonkwo said. “You need the elites to secure your victory, even if the people vote for you. If the elites come together, like they did in 2014 to confront Jonathan in 2015, they were able to secure their victory. If they were not together, they wouldn’t have been able to secure it.”

While discussions about a potential coalition have largely focused on Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar, Okonkwo expressed uncertainty about whether either of them would ultimately emerge as the flagbearer of the alliance. However, he maintained that forming a coalition remains the only viable path for the opposition to challenge Tinubu successfully.

“As we move toward 2027, I know there will be a coalition,” he said. “Whether it will be between Peter Obi or Atiku, I don’t know, but there will be a coalition. Because that will be the only choice the opposition has. If there is no coalition, Tinubu is unbeatable.”