Kenneth Okonkwo, spokesperson for the presidential campaign of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has warned that Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso cannot defeat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu if they contest the 2027 presidential election independently.
Okonkwo said the opposition must form a broad political coalition if it wants to wrest power from the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the next general election.
He made the remarks while discussing the political calculations ahead of the 2027 presidential poll, insisting that the strength of the ruling APC should not be underestimated.
According to Okonkwo, the opposition’s decision to present multiple candidates could once again divide votes and give Tinubu an advantage.
‘Tinubu Will Eat Obi Like Biscuits’
Okonkwo used a colourful expression to describe what he believes could happen if Obi decides to challenge Tinubu without a broader opposition alliance.
He said Obi would struggle to defeat the incumbent on his own, even with Kwankwaso as his running mate.
Okonkwo argued that the 2023 election demonstrated the consequences of opposition fragmentation, with Atiku, Obi and other candidates sharing votes that could otherwise have produced a stronger challenge to the APC.
He maintained that the lesson from 2023 should guide opposition politicians ahead of the next election.
Coalition Remains Key, Says Okonkwo
The ADC campaign spokesman said the opposition needs to work together rather than allow individual ambitions to weaken its chances.
He argued that a single, formidable opposition structure would be better positioned to challenge the APC’s political machinery across the country.
Okonkwo’s comments come amid continuing disagreements among opposition figures over the best presidential candidate to lead the challenge against Tinubu.
While Atiku is running under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Obi and Kwankwaso have emerged as leading figures within the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
The development has created a new political rivalry among politicians who previously participated in efforts to establish a united opposition platform.
2027 Battle Intensifies
The 2027 presidential contest is already generating intense political calculations, with the APC relying on Tinubu’s incumbency and political structure while opposition parties attempt to build a coalition capable of defeating him.
Okonkwo believes that individual candidates cannot overcome the ruling party’s advantages without cooperation.
He therefore urged opposition politicians to put their differences aside and pursue a common strategy.
For now, however, the opposition remains divided over the question of leadership and the platform through which it should contest the election.
With the election still ahead, the battle for a unified opposition could become one of the defining political stories of the 2027 race.