By: OBSERVERS TIMES
Former Labour Party campaign spokesperson, Kenneth Okonkwo, has issued a stark warning: President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027 can only be countered by a formidable coalition of the country’s top political elites. He contends that no single opposition candidate, regardless of their popularity, can overcome the incumbent’s influence without a unified front.
Body: Speaking on Channels Television’s “Politics Today,” Okonkwo, a prominent legal practitioner and Nollywood actor, emphasized the evolving nature of Nigerian elections. “No one single candidate can beat Tinubu alone, by whatever name they are called,” he stated. “In Nigeria, we have entered into the unfortunacy that you will not only win, but you have to secure your victory. So you need the elites to secure your victory, even if the people vote for you.”
He drew parallels with the 2015 presidential election, where a coalition of influential figures played a pivotal role in securing victory for the opposition. “If the elites come together, like they did in 2014 to confront Jonathan, in 2015, they were able to secure their victory when the people voted for them. If they were not together, they would not have been able to secure their victory,” Okonkwo explained.
While stopping short of confirming a potential alliance between Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar, he predicted a broad coalition as the only viable strategy for the opposition. “I may not guarantee an alliance between Peter Obi and Atiku. But as we are moving to 2027, I know that there will be a coalition. Whether it will be between Obi and Atiku, I don’t know. But there will be a coalition. Why? Because that will be the only choice, the opposition has to make an impact. At the moment, if there is no coalition, Tinubu is unbeatable. He will just walk straight (to victory).”
Okonkwo also leveled serious accusations against President Tinubu, describing him as a “harbinger of anarchy.” He cited the recent controversy surrounding the Lagos State House of Assembly speakership as an example of the president’s alleged overreach. “Tinubu has been a harbinger of anarchy. Look at Lagos State, where 14 members of the House of Assembly voted that they do not want the Speaker, of course, in support of the governor. This was because the elected female went in and solidarized with the governor, who reciprocated,” he said.
He further elaborated, “But only one man, Tinubu, gave the instruction saying, No, I want Speaker Obasa to remain. That was how one veto vote was superior to the 14 votes of the House of Assembly. What is that? That’s anarchy, an absence of authority completely in the legislative house.” He dismissed the court’s role in reinstating Speaker Obasa, asserting that the president’s intervention was the decisive factor. “Obasa was reinstated by the words of Tinubu, not by the court’s decision,” he concluded.
