Former Labour Party presidential campaign spokesman, Kenneth Okonkwo, has expressed his willingness to support either a southerner or a northerner who is prepared to step down after a single four-year term, as part of efforts to build a coalition ahead of the 2027 elections.
Okonkwo made this statement on Sunday during a televised interview. He highlighted the importance of equity and fairness between Nigeria’s northern and southern regions, referencing the unwritten tradition of rotational presidency.
“Everyone should come together. It is something that can be discussed. Who is going to do four years will influence who I am going to support because I still believe in equity and justice,” Okonkwo stated.
The Nollywood actor-turned-politician, who resigned from the Labour Party in February, confirmed that he was open to joining any coalition that aims to challenge President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the upcoming election.
The idea of a coalition has gained significant traction in recent weeks, fueled by the recent defection of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai from APC to the Social Democratic Party (SDP). Okonkwo criticized the APC government, describing it as incompetent, and underscored the need for opposition parties to unite in order to remove the current administration from power.
“My game plan is simple. If the opposition is serious about taking power from this incompetent government, they must unite and act as one, because that was exactly what the APC did in 2013, which helped them win in 2015,” Okonkwo said.
He further emphasized his belief in coalitions, stating that he had expressed his openness to discussions with various groups in a bid to consolidate opposition forces, ultimately aiming to oust the current government in the 2027 elections.
