Kenneth Okonkwo, spokesperson for the Atiku Abubakar presidential campaign, has projected that the former Vice President will defeat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election, claiming that Atiku is positioned to win all 19 states in Northern Nigeria and three states in the Southwest.
Okonkwo made the projection during an interview on AIT’s Democracy Today on Monday while assessing the chances of the major presidential contenders ahead of the election. He said the African Democratic Congress (ADC), on whose platform Atiku is expected to contest, has already secured significant support across the North.
According to Okonkwo, the 19 northern states are already leaning towards the ADC. He attributed the projected opposition support to what he described as growing frustration with the economic policies of the Tinubu administration, particularly the cost of living, minimum wage and rising petrol prices.
He also predicted that the opposition would make significant gains in the South-South, saying Atiku’s running mate would help attract support in the region. Okonkwo projected that the opposition would win more than two states in the South-South and secure at least 25 per cent of the vote across the region, arguing that voters could support a candidate whose running mate comes from the area.
In the Southwest, Okonkwo specifically identified Osun, Ondo and Ogun as the three states he believes Atiku could win. He pointed to Atiku’s performance in Osun during the 2023 presidential election as part of his basis for the projection.
The projection comes as political parties and opposition groups intensify preparations for the 2027 presidential election. The APC is also strengthening its structures and campaigning for Tinubu’s re-election, while opposition parties continue efforts to build a coalition capable of challenging the ruling party.