Former Labour Party presidential spokesman, Kenneth Okonkwo, has said that a coalition remains the opposition’s only real chance to defeat President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 election.
Speaking during an appearance on Sunday, April 27, on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Okonkwo expressed strong confidence that a coalition would eventually be formed, although he admitted he was unsure who would lead it.
“Moving to 2027, I know that there will be a coalition. Whether it is going to be between Peter Obi and Atiku, I don’t know, but there will be a coalition. Why? Because that will be the only choice the opposition has to make any impact,” Okonkwo said.
When asked if Tinubu would become unbeatable if the opposition failed to form an alliance, Okonkwo replied, “Outrightly, he will just walk into it.”
He argued that no single opposition candidate could defeat Tinubu alone, given Nigeria’s current political climate.
“In Nigeria, we have entered into the unfortunacy that you will not only win but you have to secure your victory,” he said.
READ ALSO: No Coalition Can Unseat Tinubu in 2027, Former Lagos Lawmaker Asserts
Drawing a parallel to 2015, he noted that it took a united front of elites to unseat then-President Goodluck Jonathan, adding that a similar effort would be needed to remove Tinubu from power.
Turning to recent defections from opposition parties to the APC, Okonkwo said many politicians were switching sides because they believed the ruling party would manipulate election results in their favour come 2027.
He criticised this mindset, saying, “It is an absurdity that people will see a sinking house and be running into it for shelter.”
Okonkwo also addressed his own political status, reiterating that while he had resigned from the Labour Party, he had not yet joined another political group.
He explained that he was carefully studying the political landscape before making his next move, but insisted that uniting the opposition should be the priority.
“My next move is that there should be a coalition of all the opposition political parties,” he said.