As political momentum builds ahead of the 2027 general elections, legal practitioner and Labour Party spokesperson in the 2023 elections, Barrister Kenneth Okonkwo, has called on Nigeria’s opposition parties to form a united front in order to offer a credible alternative to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Okonkwo made the remarks during an interview on Arise TV, where he responded to the recent endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by the APC Northwest zone as the party’s sole presidential candidate for 2027. The endorsement, which also included automatic second-term tickets for APC governors in the region, has stirred debate amid mounting concerns over insecurity, poverty, and governance.
“It is shameful that, at a time when lives are being lost—like the 15 people reportedly killed in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State—and the Northwest is facing the highest rates of out-of-school children and poverty, party leaders are focused on an election that’s still two years away,” Okonkwo said.
He described the endorsement as a gathering of political elites out of touch with the region’s over 60 million citizens, adding that true democracy is driven by the people, not by what he termed “sycophants seeking power for its own sake”.
Okonkwo attributed the opposition’s failure in the 2023 presidential election to disunity, noting that the APC won the presidency with only 37% of the total vote. He stressed that defeating the ruling party in 2027 would require opposition parties to set aside differences and build a coalition committed to national progress.
“The only way to get the APC out of power in 2027 is for the opposition to unite,” he stated.
“Nigerians deserve a government founded on integrity, competence, and service—not one obsessed with clinging to power.”
Criticizing what he described as the APC’s lack of ideological consistency, Okonkwo likened the party’s shifting alliances and frequent defections to the unpredictable taste of palm wine.
“Today, they support Tinubu. Tomorrow, they’ll jump ship. That’s the instability the APC represents,” he said.
Addressing reports of ongoing discussions between former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi—including a proposed one-term presidency with Obi as running mate—Okonkwo cautioned against closed-door political deals.
“Leadership should be determined by the people, not by backroom arrangements,” he said.
On the Labour Party’s future, Okonkwo reaffirmed the party’s pro-worker roots but raised concerns about candidates who joined without embracing its core values. Though he has since stepped away from the party due to internal challenges, he confirmed his continued engagement in politics.
“I’m part of a coalition that is still taking shape. We’re not rushing into any platform, but when we do emerge, Nigerians will hear from us,” he said.
“We may not be able to change the beginning of our story, but we can certainly change how it ends. And I believe we will succeed.”
