Veteran Nollywood actor and politician, Kenneth Okonkwo, has warned opposition political figures against fielding a southern presidential candidate in the 2027 general election — claimed such a move could inadvertently hand President Bola Ahmed Tinubu a second term.
Speaking in a recent interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Okonkwo advised that the emerging coalition of opposition parties must be strategic in its choice of candidate to unseat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to him, presenting another southerner — such as Peter Obi — would be politically unwise, given the zoning expectations in Nigeria’s power-sharing framework.
“If you bring a southerner, then the North will say it’s the turn of the South, and they’ll support their own southerner — which is Tinubu,” Okonkwo said. “If you want to remove an incumbent, you must do the needful.”
The actor-politician stressed the need for the opposition coalition to agree on a northern candidate in order to effectively challenge Tinubu in 2027. He maintained that only a broad-based alliance rooted in zoning equity, fairness, and national appeal can sway the political tide.
Okonkwo, who was Peter Obi’s spokesperson in the 2023 campaign, stopped short of naming his preferred northern candidate but emphasized that political realities must outweigh sentiment.
This intervention comes amid renewed talks of a mega-coalition involving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), and other opposition blocs seeking to prevent a repeat APC victory in 2027.
President Tinubu, who emerged victorious in a tightly contested 2023 election, has faced criticism over economic hardship, rising fuel costs, and security setbacks. However, his incumbency and political network still make him a formidable opponent.
Okonkwo’s comments underline the complex regional dynamics that will shape Nigeria’s next presidential race — where identity politics, zoning principles, and coalition strategy could determine who takes the lead.
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