As Nigeria’s political landscape begins to heat up ahead of the 2027 Presidential election, Kenneth Okonkwo, spokesperson for the Atiku Abubakar Presidential campaign, has declared that a broad opposition coalition remains the most realistic route to defeating President Bola Tinubu.
Okonkwo made the assertion during an interview with Ibeju Upgrade Media, published on YouTube on Thursday, September 3, 2026, where he also questioned the ability of Labour Party-backed political heavyweight Peter Obi to defeat Tinubu without the backing of a wider opposition alliance.
According to Okonkwo, the fragmented nature of Nigeria’s opposition could ultimately work in favour of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) if major opposition figures contest the 2027 election separately.
“Coalition is the only way out,” Okonkwo said, arguing that opposition forces must consolidate their political strength if they hope to challenge Tinubu effectively.
He went on to reference Tinubu’s well-known political philosophy about the aggressive pursuit of power, arguing that opposition politicians cannot afford to approach the 2027 contest as isolated contenders.
A major focus of the interview was Peter Obi, who has remained one of the most prominent opposition figures since his strong performance in the 2023 presidential election.
Okonkwo, however, dismissed the prospect of Obi defeating Tinubu on his own.
“So, if Peter Obi goes against Tinubu alone, Tinubu will eat him like biscuits,” he said.
He also questioned Obi’s ability to make significant electoral gains in Kano and the wider Northern political landscape, pointing to the results of the 2023 presidential election as part of his argument.
“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.
His comments underline one of the central strategic questions confronting opposition politicians: whether a candidate can build a sufficiently broad National coalition across Nigeria’s politically diverse regions to challenge the incumbent.
Okonkwo was equally dismissive of Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, another influential northern politician and former pryesidential candidate.
“Kwankwaso has nothing to contribute to the ticket. Even in Kano, Kwankwaso has lost,” he said.
The statement is significant because Kano has historically been one of Nigeria’s most electorally important states, while Kwankwaso’s political influence has extended well beyond the State through the Kwankwasiya movement.
The 2027 contest could therefore hinge heavily on how major candidates perform in northern states, particularly in areas where opposition parties are attempting to consolidate their support.
The latest comments revive the debate over the long-discussed opposition coalition that gained momentum in 2025.
Efforts to bring together major opposition politicians and parties have faced considerable difficulties, particularly over questions surrounding which candidate should lead a united ticket and which political platform should carry the coalition into the election.
Rather than producing a single opposition presidential candidate, the political landscape has continued to feature competing ambitions and separate alliances.
That fragmentation could become one of the defining issues of the 2027 election.
For the opposition, a coalition could potentially combine the strengths of politicians with different regional, demographic and political constituencies. But such an arrangement would also require the major players to make significant compromises—especially on Presidential ambition.
President Bola Tinubu is seeking another term in office after winning the 2023 Presidential election.
His administration has spent much of its first term defending major economic reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidy arrangements and changes affecting foreign exchange policy. While the government has argued that the reforms are necessary to stabilise the economy and attract investment, they have also generated significant public debate over inflation, living costs and household purchasing power.
The economic situation is expected to remain a major issue in the 2027 campaign.
For the APC, the challenge will be to defend Tinubu’s record and convince voters that the Government’s reforms are producing sustainable benefits.
For the opposition, the challenge is more complicated: it must not only criticise the administration but also find a candidate capable of uniting voters across Nigeria’s regional, ethnic and political divides.
Okonkwo’s latest intervention therefore goes beyond an endorsement of coalition politics. It exposes the fundamental dilemma facing the opposition ahead of 2027.
Several opposition figures may have enough political strength to influence the election, but bringing them together behind one Presidential candidate could prove much harder than defeating the ruling party at the ballot box.
If Atiku, Obi, Kwankwaso and other opposition leaders ultimately remain on separate political tracks, their combined support could be divided across multiple tickets.
If, however, they succeed in negotiating a credible coalition, the 2027 Presidential election could become a much more competitive contest.
For now, Okonkwo’s message is unmistakable: the opposition must unite if it wants a realistic shot at unseating Tinubu.
The 2027 race is still unfolding, but one thing is increasingly clear: the battle may rely as much on political alliances before election day as on campaigns during the election itself.
About The Author
