Kenneth Okonkwo, former Labour Party chieftain and 2023 spokesperson for Peter Obi’s presidential campaign, has said that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) must present a northern candidate in the 2027 presidential election if it hopes to defeat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Speaking on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme, Okonkwo warned that fielding another southern candidate would all but guarantee Tinubu’s re-election.
“My strategy this time around is that I am going to support a northerner in 2027,” he said, explaining that the political realities favour Tinubu unless the opposition takes a more strategic path.
According to Okonkwo, only a northern candidate with broad appeal and political experience such as Atiku Abubakar or Aminu Tambuwal could mount a serious challenge. He added that pairing such a candidate with a strong southern running mate could give the opposition the edge it needs.
“The person must be qualified. And if he has experience in the presidency, it is an added advantage,” he said.
Okonkwo described President Tinubu’s leadership as “incurably bad” and claimed that unless the opposition unites behind a northern candidate, Tinubu will win with ease.
“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 warned.
He also ruled out a southeastern candidate’s chances, saying that even if such a candidate wins the popular vote, the result might not be upheld.
“If you bring somebody from the south-east, even if he wins, they will steal it from him,” he claimed, referencing what he believes happened in the 2023 elections.
He accused the political establishment of favouring incumbents and warned that opposition candidates must factor in Nigeria’s regional and power dynamics to stand a chance.
Okonkwo formally left the Labour Party in July 2024, citing internal divisions and what he described as Peter Obi’s lack of decisive leadership. His exit came amid a wave of opposition realignments, which saw the ADC emerge as the new platform for a coalition aiming to unseat the current administration in 2027.
Despite his earlier support for Obi, Okonkwo now insists that political strategy, not sentiment, should guide the opposition’s next move.
“Peter Obi won the 2023 election, and they stole it from us. If you do it again, they will still steal it,” he said, urging the coalition to act differently next time.