No Southern ADC Candidate Can Defeat Tinubu, Says Okonkwo

Veteran actor‑turned‑lawyer Kenneth Okonkwo, a former spokesperson for the Labour Party, has insisted that any attempt by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to unseat President Bola Tinubu in 2027 with a southern nominee will be fruitless.

Okonkwo delivered these remarks during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, advising that the ADC instead back a heavyweight from the North to stand a chance at victory 

Okonkwo on Tinubu’s Turf

According to Daily Post, Okonkwo was clear presenting a southern contender such as Peter Obi against another southerner like Tinubu only strengthens the incumbent’s position.

“Anybody telling you to bring a fresh southerner to compete against Tinubu… is trying to zone the ticket to Tinubu, and Tinubu will win outrightly,” he said

He added that a truly competitive opposition must nominate a northern figure capable of uniting voters across that region.

Read Also: 2027: APC Chieftains Says Elite Coalition Against Tinubu Will Collapse Like Past Political Alliances

Okonkwo on Northern Heavyweight

Okonkwo suggested that the ADC should rally behind prominent northern politicians like Atiku Abubakar or Aminu Tambuwal, whose presence could activate the northern vote.

“My strategy this time around is that I am going to support a northerner in 2027,” he explained
“It must be a northerner that the whole North is willing to support.”

He noted that pairing a northern candidate with a credible southern running mate would broaden appeal and strengthen electoral balance

Okonkwo Warning from 2023

Reflecting on his split from the Labour Party in July 2024, Okonkwo emphasized that southern candidates lack sufficient institutional support to overcome Tinubu citing Obi’s 2023 presidential run as a cautionary example.

He remarked that without northern power and structural backing, southern campaigns are vulnerable to electoral manipulation and incumbent advantage.

Rationale Behind Zoning Strategy

Okonkwo also stressed the tradition of power rotation in Nigeria: northern leadership followed by the South, and vice versa. He argued that such zoning would withstand accusations of injustice.

“Whoever wins a primary election will take it for four years. Where is the injustice?” he asked

As the ADC cements its opposition platform, Okonkwo’s message is strategic not dismissive. He believes that only a well-coordinated northern backed ticket stands a realistic chance of presenting a genuine challenge to Tinubu in 2027.

“If you bring somebody from the Southeast, even if he wins, they will steal it from him,” he warned