Kenneth Okonkwo Backs Northern Candidate To Stop Tinubu In 2027

Former Labour Party spokesman Kenneth Okonkwo has said he may throw his weight behind a northern candidate in the 2027 presidential election, arguing that this strategy offers the best chance of defeating President Bola Tinubu.

Okonkwo, who was a vocal supporter of Peter Obi during the 2023 polls, shared his new political direction in a recent television interview. He warned that presenting another southern candidate against Tinubu could split the opposition and hand victory to the ruling All Progressives Congress.

His comments follow his exit from the Labour Party in mid-2024, citing unresolved internal issues and Obi’s inability to provide firm leadership during the crisis. Since leaving the party, Okonkwo has aligned himself with a growing coalition of opposition figures seeking to challenge the APC’s hold on power.

He argued that only a candidate from the North can unify the region and build the national momentum needed to unseat the incumbent. He pointed to past elections where the northern voting bloc played a key role in determining the outcome and said this should not be ignored in 2027.

Okonkwo mentioned names like Atiku Abubakar and Aminu Tambuwal as possible contenders who could rally wide support. He stressed that his support isn’t tied to any one person, but to whichever northern candidate can command strong backing across the region and beyond.

He rejected the idea of fielding a new face from the South, warning that this would make it easier for Tinubu to retain power. According to him, placing two southern candidates against each other would leave the North with no real stake in the race—and that could tip the balance in Tinubu’s favour once again.

He also raised concerns about fairness and electoral trust, saying a candidate from the South East could face challenges even if they win. He claimed that without strong institutional backing, such a victory could be overturned or ignored. In contrast, he believes a northern candidate is more likely to have their mandate respected due to political dynamics within the country.

Okonkwo’s position is already stirring conversations within the broader opposition front, especially as talks about a unified presidential ticket begin to gain momentum. The African Democratic Congress (ADC), one of the platforms involved in the opposition alliance, is expected to play a key role in determining which region will produce the 2027 flag bearer.

With just under two years to go before the election, Okonkwo’s shift could influence how other former allies of Obi and the Labour Party recalibrate their strategies. His stance adds to the growing pressure on opposition parties to put aside internal rivalries and build a coalition that stands a real chance against the APC.

For now, Okonkwo remains firm on one point—if the opposition truly wants to defeat Tinubu, it must approach 2027 with a strategy grounded in political reality, not emotion or regional sentiment.