Kenneth Okonkwo, former Labour Party spokesperson, said only a strong northern candidate can defeat President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 election
He warned that fielding a southern candidate like Peter Obi or Rotimi Amaechi would benefit Tinubu, arguing the opposition needs a north-south ticket to win
Okonkwo, who recently left the Labour Party, criticised its leadership and said the ADC-led coalition must adopt a strategic approach to unseat the incumbent. …CONTINUE READING
Kenneth Okonkwo, former spokesperson for the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential campaign, has stated that the only way to unseat President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 election is by fielding a strong northern candidate.
He said opposition parties risk handing Tinubu an easy victory if they push forward a southern candidate like Peter Obi or Rotimi Amaechi.
Speaking during an interview on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme aired on Tuesday, July 8, Okonkwo said:
“My strategy this time around is that I am going to support a northerner in 2027… If the whole north is willing to support an Atiku, why not? If they support a Tambuwal, why not?”
Okonkwo argued that presenting a southern flagbearer would amount to zoning the ticket to Tinubu, who is also from the South.
According to him, this would play directly into the president’s hands and ensure his re-election. “Anybody telling you to bring a fresh southerner to compete against Tinubu is trying to zone the ticket to Tinubu—and Tinubu will win outright,” he warned.
He further said that even if a candidate from the South-East wins, the powers that be could still “steal it from him,” citing the 2023 election as an example.
The actor-turned-politician added that a credible and widely supported northern candidate, paired with a competent southerner, stands the best chance of dislodging the ruling party.
He maintained that such a strategy would avoid regional bias and make it harder for electoral victory to be undermined.
Okonkwo stressed that Nigeria’s political structure makes it difficult for a non-establishment candidate to win without full backing, especially when running against an incumbent from the same region.
Okonkwo, who left the Labour Party in July 2024, said his decision was influenced by internal disagreements and Peter Obi’s lack of decisive leadership. He has since distanced himself from the party and the growing opposition coalition.
