Kenneth Okonkwo, a former spokesperson for the Labour Party’s presidential campaign, has urged key political figures—President Bola Tinubu, former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, and Peter Obi—to step down ahead of the 2027 elections. He argued that these leaders have disappointed Nigerians and should not seek another term in office.
During an interview on Arise TV, Okonkwo, also a well-known Nollywood actor, expressed his disappointment in both the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition parties. He criticized the opposition for their failure to unite and effectively challenge the APC, which he believes has contributed to the country’s ongoing struggles.
Okonkwo emphasized the need for fresh faces in Nigeria’s political landscape, advocating for a complete overhaul of the current leadership. He stated, “I fully support the idea of bringing in new leaders, and that is why I believe Tinubu, Atiku, and Obi should all step aside.”
He further explained that the ruling party’s failures, coupled with the opposition’s inability to collaborate, have left the nation in a difficult position. Okonkwo pointed out that despite having a majority in the House of Representatives, opposition members failed to work together to challenge the ruling party effectively.
He criticized the focus on future elections immediately after one has concluded, suggesting that the opposition should instead concentrate on forming alliances and consolidating their efforts to present a united front. According to Okonkwo, if opposition members in the House of Representatives had united, they could have secured key leadership positions, such as the Speaker and Vice Speaker roles.
In his view, the current political leaders have not lived up to the expectations of Nigerians, and it is time for new leaders to take the helm.