Kenneth Okonkwo and Peter Obi

Kenneth Okonkwo, spokesperson for the Atiku Abubakar presidential campaign, has said an opposition coalition remains the only viable strategy for defeating President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.

Okonkwo also ruled out the possibility of Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), defeating Tinubu if he contests the election without the backing of a broader opposition alliance.

He made the remarks during an interview with Ibeju Upgrade Media.

According to Okonkwo, Obi would struggle to unseat Tinubu on his own, even if he chooses former Kano State governor Rabiu Kwankwaso as his running mate.

He argued that the opposition would need to unite around a strong coalition to stand a realistic chance of defeating the incumbent president in 2027.

Okonkwo further expressed doubts about Obi’s ability to attract sufficient support in northern Nigeria if he enters the presidential race independently.

He also dismissed the potential impact of Kwankwaso on an Obi-led ticket, claiming that the former Kano governor’s political influence has weakened, including in his home state.

The comments come amid renewed efforts by opposition politicians and political groups to build a coalition ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

The proposed alliance is expected to bring together prominent opposition figures and parties seeking to challenge Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the next general election.