Kenneth Okonkwo, a prominent opposition figure and former spokesperson for Peter Obi’s 2023 presidential campaign, has reiterated his stance that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) must field a northern candidate to effectively challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general election.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Okonkwo argued that only a northern candidate with widespread regional support can disrupt Tinubu’s re-election bid, warning that a southern candidate would likely ensure the incumbent’s victory.
“The only way to make a disruptive change is to bring a northerner and disrupt Tinubu’s regime,” he stated, citing Nigeria’s political dynamics and the power of incumbency.
Okonkwo, who defected from the Labour Party to the ADC in July 2024 due to internal crises and Obi’s alleged indecisiveness, emphasized that the ADC is committed to a transparent and inclusive primary election process.
“ADC’s position is clear: there will be a free and fair primary election where everybody is free to contest,” he said, addressing concerns about regional biases in candidate selection.
He clarified that the ADC has agreed to a single four-year presidential term for its candidate, aligning with Nigeria’s constitutional framework rather than an assumed eight-year rotation between regions.
The ADC, recently adopted as the platform for a coalition of opposition heavyweights including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Nasir El-Rufai, and Rotimi Amaechi, aims to unite Nigeria’s fragmented opposition to unseat Tinubu’s All Progressives Congress (APC).
Okonkwo suggested that northern candidates like Atiku Abubakar, Aminu Tambuwal, or Nasir El-Rufai could be strong contenders if they secure broad northern support, paired with a southern running mate to balance regional representation.
“It must be a northerner that the whole north is willing to support… and when he puts up something from the south, that will push him through,” he explained.
The ADC coalition, unveiled on July 2, 2025, is banking on the combined 12 million votes secured by Atiku and Obi in 2023, which surpassed Tinubu’s 8 million votes, to build a formidable challenge.
Okonkwo dismissed concerns about APC infiltration, vowing that the coalition would treat any spies harshly to protect its unity.
He also criticized Tinubu’s administration as “incurably bad,” citing economic mismanagement and rising insecurity as reasons to prioritize his removal.
As the ADC prepares for its primaries, Okonkwo’s advocacy for a northern candidate and a fair electoral process underscores the coalition’s strategic focus on leveraging Nigeria’s regional voting dynamics while promoting inclusivity.
Political analysts suggest that the success of this approach will depend on the ADC’s ability to maintain cohesion among its diverse members and deliver on its promise of a transparent primary process.
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