Former Labour Party chieftain and Peter Obi’s 2023 campaign spokesperson, Kenneth Okonkwo, has stated that the coalition may fail if they field Peter Obi again
He insists that if the African Democratic Congress (ADC) hopes to unseat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the general election of 2027, it must field a candidate from the north.
Kenneth Okonkwo stated on Channels Television’s Politics Today that Tinubu’s reelection would be certain if the ADC tried to field a candidate from the south.
He also cautioned that unless the opposition takes a calculated and practical stance, the political maths in 2027 will favour the incumbent.
“My strategy this time around is that I am going to support a northerner in 2027,” Okonkwo said.
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“If northern political figures like Atiku Abubakar or Aminu Tambuwal enjoy the confidence of the region,
then the opposition must rally around them,” he said, arguing that the candidate must have broad northern appeal.
“The person must be qualified. And if he has experience in the presidency, it is an added advantage.
When he pairs with someone from the south, that will push him through”, he explained.
Kenneth Okonkwo further described President Tinubu as “incurably bad,”
insisting that only a credible northern challenger can pose a serious threat to his return bid.
“Anybody telling you it is injustice if the north comes in, or if the south comes in…
whoever wins a primary election will take it for four years. Where is the injustice? It has happened before,” he said.
He also warned that nominating another southern candidate would amount to handing Tinubu the election on a platter.
“Anybody telling you to bring a fresh southerner to compete against Tinubu,
a southerner, is trying to zone the ticket to Tinubu. And Tinubu will win outright,” he said.
Okonkwo then dismissed the possibility of a south-easterner winning
in a direct face-off against Tinubu, even if such a candidate secures the popular vote.
“If you bring somebody from the south-east, even if he wins, they will steal it from him,” he asserted.
He further pointed to historical electoral patterns and political strategy,
noting that the south-west has never fielded a candidate against a sitting president.
“Do you know the south-west has never contested against an incumbent? Strategy.
Because in Nigeria, if you don’t have the establishment behind you, even if you win, they will steal it from you,” he said.
He reiterated his belief that Peter Obi won the 2023 election but had his mandate taken.
“Peter Obi won the election in 2023, and they stole it from us.
If you do it again, they will still steal it, because there is no incumbent to defend the victory.
“But if you bring someone from the north, nobody will pressure him to relinquish his win
because he is not from the same region as the incumbent”, he said.
Watch Snippet of the interview HERE
Meanwhile recall that Kenneth Okonkwo formally resigned from the Labour Party in July 2024,
citing unresolved internal crises and what he described as Obi’s indecisiveness.
With this assertion, will the ADC be fielding Peter Obi? Or will they be going for a Northern candidate?