2027: KENNETH OKONKWO URGES OPPOSITION PARTIES TO UNITE BEHIND ATIKU AGAINST TINUBU

By NaijaParrot | October 23, 2026 

 ABUJA, NIGERIA — Kenneth Okonkwo, spokesperson for the Atiku Abubakar presidential campaign, has called on opposition parties to unite behind a single candidate ahead of the 2027 general election, arguing that a divided opposition could strengthen President Bola Tinubu’s chances of securing another term. Okonkwo has consistently advocated a broad opposition alliance, maintaining that political parties seeking to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) must be prepared to set aside individual ambitions and work towards a common presidential ticket. His position places former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar at the centre of the ongoing debate over who should lead the opposition’s efforts to challenge Tinubu in 2027.

In an interview with Ibeju Upgrade Media in September, Okonkwo argued that no opposition candidate could mount a strong challenge against Tinubu without the backing of a broader political coalition. He maintained that the opposition needed to bring together its political structures, alliances and supporters to avoid splitting votes among competing presidential candidates. “Coalition is the only way out,” Okonkwo said, warning that opposition parties risk weakening their collective position if they contest the presidential election separately. The former actor and politician also questioned the ability of Peter Obi, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, to defeat Tinubu without support from other opposition forces. His comments have added to the growing debate over whether opposition leaders should rally behind one candidate or maintain separate presidential ambitions. 

 The push for a unified opposition has been complicated by the separate political ambitions of major opposition figures, including Atiku and Obi. Atiku, a former vice-president, is associated with the African Democratic Congress (ADC), while Obi is pursuing his presidential ambition under the NDC platform. The competing political arrangements have raised questions about whether the opposition can agree on a common candidate before the 2027 election. Okonkwo’s argument is that cooperation among opposition parties would help consolidate their support rather than allow their candidates to compete against one another. However, whether the parties will agree on a single candidate remains unresolved, with questions surrounding party platforms, candidate selection and the distribution of political influence likely to shape future negotiations. 

 The 2023 presidential election continues to feature prominently in discussions about opposition unity. Tinubu was declared the winner with approximately 8.8 million votes, while Atiku received about 6.98 million votes and Obi secured approximately 6.1 million. The results have fuelled arguments that cooperation between major opposition groups could change the dynamics of a future presidential contest. Nevertheless, votes recorded by separate candidates in a previous election cannot automatically be treated as transferable to a single candidate, as voters may make different choices depending on the candidates, parties and issues involved. 

 The call for opposition unity comes amid continuing efforts by political leaders to establish a coalition capable of challenging the APC in 2027. Although the idea of a common opposition platform has attracted support from several political figures, disagreements over leadership and presidential ambitions remain significant obstacles. Okonkwo’s intervention reinforces his position that opposition parties should prioritise a common strategy rather than allow competing candidacies to divide their support. 

CAN THIS COALITION WORK? 

Whether Atiku ultimately emerges as the candidate acceptable to the wider opposition will depend on the decisions of the parties and political leaders involved in the coalition discussions. For now, the debate over opposition unity remains one of the major political issues shaping preparations for the 2027 general election. 

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