Kenneth Okonkwo, spokesperson for the Atiku Abubakar Presidential Campaign Organisation, has warned that the opposition's failure to unite behind a single presidential candidate could strengthen President Bola Tinubu's bid for re-election in 2027. He made the remarks during an interview on TVC Politics on Sunday. Okonkwo emphasized that the opposition could only mount a serious challenge to the All Progressives Congress (APC) by pooling its political structures, alliances, and votes behind one candidate.
President Tinubu is the APC candidate in the election that has 17 other candidates. The interview was conducted in the context of renewed efforts by opposition politicians to form a coalition ahead of the 2027 presidential election. Those efforts have been complicated by the separate ambitions of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), former Governor of Anambra State Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), and other opposition figures.
Okonkwo argued that Obi's decision to pursue his own presidential bid rather than participate in a broader coalition had created the possibility of another division of opposition votes. "Coalition is the only way out," Okonkwo said, noting that no opposition candidate should confront an incumbent president without the support of a wider political alliance. This argument is rooted partly in the outcome of the 2023 presidential election, when the opposition vote was divided among several major candidates.
The Independent National Electoral Commission's final results show that Tinubu won with 8.7 million votes, while Atiku polled 6.9 million and Obi recorded 6.1 million votes. Rabiu Kwankwaso of the then New Nigeria Peoples Party received 1.4 million votes. Analysts said those figures cannot automatically be treated as transferable votes because voters who supported different candidates would not necessarily have supported a single opposition candidate.
Okonkwo believes the lesson is clear: multiple opposition candidates could once again fragment the vote, while a united ticket could combine political structures and broaden the opposition's reach. The most striking aspect of Okonkwo's intervention is his criticism of the politician he once helped to promote. The former actor turned politician was a prominent member of Obi's 2023 campaign but has since become an advocate of Atiku's candidacy.
Okonkwo explained his break with Obi, saying his assessment changed after what he described as new information about Obi's record as Anambra governor. The dispute centres particularly on the former governor's financial record. The Anambra State Government recently alleged that eight external borrowing facilities associated with projects during Obi's tenure had a combined contracted value of about $123.77 million, with approximately $92.35 million still outstanding as of June 30, 2026.
Okonkwo said his case for Atiku rests largely on political experience, established structures, and nationwide alliances. He recalled that Atiku has contested the presidency several times and has previously served as vice-president, while Obi emerged from the 2023 election with a substantial national vote and a particularly strong following among younger voters. Okonkwo also used the TVC Politics interview to criticise the Tinubu administration over the economy, insecurity, and the cost of living.
Key points
- Opposition division could give Tinubu advantage in 2027 election
- Kenneth Okonkwo criticizes Peter Obi's decision to pursue solo presidential bid
- Okonkwo advocates for opposition coalition to challenge Tinubu in 2027
