As preparations intensify for Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, legal practitioner and former Labour Party spokesperson during the 2023 polls, Barrister Kenneth Okonkwo, has called on opposition parties to close ranks and form a united front against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Speaking in an interview on Arise TV, Okonkwo criticized the recent endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by the APC’s Northwest zone as the party’s sole candidate for 2027. The endorsement, which also included automatic second-term tickets for sitting APC governors in the region, has drawn backlash amid Nigeria’s ongoing security challenges and deepening poverty.

“It is disgraceful that while Nigerians are grappling with insecurity and economic hardship — including the killing of 15 people in Agatu, Benue State — APC leaders are focused on elections still two years away,” Okonkwo stated.

He described the endorsement as a gathering of political elites disconnected from the real issues affecting citizens, particularly in the Northwest, which he said continues to suffer from high rates of poverty and out-of-school children.

“Democracy should be about the people, not a circle of sycophants seeking power for power’s sake,” he added.

Okonkwo argued that the fragmentation among opposition parties was a major factor behind their failure to win the 2023 election, where the APC secured the presidency with just 37 percent of the vote. He stressed that unity among opposition forces is crucial to offering Nigerians a viable alternative in 2027.

“If the opposition truly wants to unseat the APC, unity is non-negotiable. Nigerians deserve leadership anchored in integrity, competence, and service — not political self-preservation,” he said.

He also lambasted the APC for what he termed its "palm wine politics" — a metaphor for ideological inconsistency and frequent party defections.

“Today they praise Tinubu, tomorrow they defect. That’s the unstable character of the APC,” Okonkwo remarked.

Reacting to reports of ongoing talks between former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi over a possible alliance and a one-term presidency agreement, Okonkwo cautioned against backroom deals.

“Leadership must be decided by the people, not through private negotiations among politicians,” he emphasized.

On the state of the Labour Party, Okonkwo expressed concern over the influx of aspirants who, according to him, do not align with the party’s pro-worker ideology. Although he has since exited the party due to internal issues, he reaffirmed his continued engagement in politics.

“I’m currently involved in a coalition that’s still in the early stages. We’re not rushing into alliances, but when we do step forward, Nigerians will know,” he revealed.

He concluded with a message of hope and determination:

“We may not be able to rewrite the beginning of our story, but we can certainly redefine how it ends. And I believe we will prevail.”