ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Kenneth Okonkwo, spokesperson for Atiku Abubakar’s presidential campaign, has dismissed the chances of Peter Obi defeating President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 election without a broader opposition alliance.
Okonkwo argued that opposition parties and their presidential contenders would need to unite if they were serious about unseating Tinubu at the poll.
Vanguard reports that he made the remarks during an interview with Ibeju Upgrade Media amid renewed efforts by opposition politicians to forge a coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to him, Obi would struggle to secure the level of support required to defeat Tinubu if he chooses to contest independently, even if former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso becomes his running mate.
“Coalition is the only way out,” Okonkwo said, insisting that the opposition could not afford to approach the election as separate political blocs.
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He argued that Tinubu’s political strength, particularly in northern Nigeria, would pose a major challenge to an Obi-led ticket running without a wider alliance.
Okonkwo pointed to the outcome of the 2023 presidential election as evidence of what he described as Obi’s difficulty in making significant inroads in the North.
“So, if Peter Obi goes against Tinubu alone, Tinubu will eat him like biscuits,” he said.
The former Labour Party chieftain also questioned the electoral value of a potential Obi-Kwankwaso ticket, arguing that Kwankwaso no longer commanded the political influence he once enjoyed in Kano.
“Kwankwaso has nothing to contribute to the ticket. Even in Kano, Kwankwaso has lost,” Okonkwo said.
His comments come as opposition figures continue to explore possible alliances aimed at presenting a stronger challenge to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and Tinubu in 2027.