Former Labour Party chieftain Kenneth Okonkwo has said opposition parties must form a coalition to stand any chance of defeating President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 election.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, the actor-turned-politician argued that neither Peter Obi of the Labour Party nor Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party could unseat Tinubu on their own.
Okonkwo pointed to the 2015 election where opposition parties united to defeat then-President Goodluck Jonathan. He said a similar coalition would be needed to overcome Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress.
“In Nigeria today, winning an election isn’t enough – you need the elites to secure that victory,” Okonkwo said. “If opposition leaders don’t come together like they did in 2014 against Jonathan, Tinubu will have an easy win in 2027.”
While discussions about a potential merger have focused on Obi and Atiku, Okonkwo said it remains unclear who would lead such an alliance.
“What I know is that a coalition must happen,” he added. “Without unity among opposition parties, Tinubu is unbeatable.”
The comments come as political observers begin early analysis of Nigeria’s next presidential race, following Tinubu’s controversial victory in 2023.
