Kenneth Okonkwo, spokesperson for the Atiku Abubakar presidential campaign, has said an opposition coalition is the only way to defeat President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
Okonkwo made the statement during an interview with Ibeju Upgrade Media, shared on YouTube on Thursday.
He also dismissed the chances of Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, defeating Mr Tinubu without a broader opposition alliance.
Attempts by opposition parties to form a coalition in 2025 suffered setbacks as major contenders, including Atiku and Obi, emerged as presidential candidates of different parties ahead of the 2027 election.
According to Okonkwo, the opposition must unite if it wants to stand a realistic chance against the incumbent.
“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, referring to Tinubu.
He argued that Obi could not defeat Tinubu on his own, citing the former Anambra governor’s performance in northern Nigeria during the 2023 presidential election.
“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,” Okonkwo said.
“Kwankwaso has nothing to contribute to the ticket. Even in Kano, Kwankwaso has lost.”
Obi is the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, while Rabiu Kwankwaso is his running mate on the party’s ticket.
Okonkwo had in May also questioned Obi’s capacity to lead Nigeria, arguing that he avoided difficult challenges.
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