Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!
As discussions on a potential coalition ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election intensify, former Labour Party (LP) presidential campaign spokesman, Kenneth Okonkwo, has expressed his support for a fresh candidate from either the North or South, provided they commit to a single four-year tenure.
Okonkwo emphasized the need for equity and fairness between Nigeria’s two major regions, aligning with the unwritten rotational presidency principle.
“Everybody should come together. It is something that can be discussed. Who is going to do four years is going to influence who I am going to support because I still believe in equity and justice,” Okonkwo stated during the Sunday edition of Inside Sources with Laolu Akande on Channels Television.
Coalition Talks Gain Momentum
Okonkwo, who left the Labour Party in February 2025, signaled his willingness to join a grand opposition coalition aimed at unseating President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.
Recent political developments have fueled coalition speculations, especially following the defection of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, from the APC to the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
El-Rufai has been seen meeting with key opposition figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Similarly, Okonkwo recently held discussions with Atiku, underscoring the need for cooperation among opposition forces.
APC Government ‘Incompetent’ – Okonkwo
Lashing out at the ruling APC, Okonkwo described the current government as “incompetent” and called on the opposition to unite as the APC did before clinching power in 2015.
“My game plan is simple. If the opposition is serious about wresting power from this incompetent government, they must all come together and act like one because that was what APC did in 2013, and that was what helped them to wrest power in 2015,” he said.
“I believe in coalition. When I was leaving, I said I am open to discussions with every group to consolidate the opposition so that we can take out this government.”
A ‘Complex And Complicated’ Election Ahead
Analyzing the dynamics of the 2027 election, Okonkwo described the situation as “one of the most complicated and complex times in Nigeria’s political history.” He pointed to the existing gentleman’s agreement of power rotation—eight years in the South, eight years in the North—and the challenge of navigating a change in leadership when an incumbent is underperforming.
“Now, when an incumbent is not doing well, and in the middle of his tenure, it is a very difficult thing to change or to project what will happen,” he explained.
“Would you say you want to get a fresh person from the South? The North will say that means he will do another eight years. They will be scared, and politicians are not very good at being trusted.
“Would you allow an incompetent government to continue just because you want to sacrifice the whole of Nigeria? Would you say let it go to the North when it has just been four years in the South? The South would say you are short-changing us.”
To resolve this dilemma, Okonkwo proposed a free and fair primary where any qualified candidate, regardless of region, can contest, but with the commitment to serving only four years.
“The best thing, if politicians were to be trusted, is to have a free, fair primary where every qualified person, whether South or North, would partake in it. And whoever emerges would agree to do four years,” he said.
“If a Northerner does four years, it would have been shared between North and South—four years each—and then it returns to the South.
“If a fresh Southern candidate wins, he will do only four years to complete the eight-year cycle before power returns to the North for a full eight-year tenure.”
2027: A Battle for Consensus
With coalition talks gathering pace and opposition figures making strategic moves, the battle for 2027 is shaping up to be a test of political alliances, trust, and the enduring debate over power rotation in Nigeria.
