Kenneth Okonkwo, former spokesperson for the Labour Party’s Presidential Campaign Council during Nigeria’s 2023 general election, has declared that the emerging political coalition involving former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and ex-Governor of Kaduna State Nasir El-Rufai has the momentum to unseat President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 elections.
Okonkwo made the assertion during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, where he emphasized the strategic depth of the coalition. According to him, many Nigerians are unaware of the internal mechanisms and planning already in motion. He stated, “Just know that I am part of the coalition. I can tell you about the engine room of this coalition that many people don’t know about. APC will not know what hit them come 2027.”
The coalition, reportedly formed by prominent opposition figures, is gaining attention for what appears to be an ambitious plan to challenge the APC’s hold on federal power. This comes amid growing political dissatisfaction and criticism of President Tinubu’s administration by various political stakeholders.
In response to these developments, Festus Keyamo, the current Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, dismissed the growing speculation around the coalition and its intentions. He refuted recent reports suggesting that the group had applied to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register a new political party, purportedly named the All Democratic Alliance (ADA).
Keyamo, writing on Twitter on Friday, June 20, 2025, described the move as exaggerated and lacking in real political weight. According to him, the individuals involved do not represent any significant political parties, nor do they possess the structure necessary to pose a threat similar to what the APC represented during its formation in 2013.
He stated that the 2013 merger which led to the formation of the APC was a coalition of recognized and established political parties with credible electoral strength. By contrast, Keyamo claimed the new group behind the ADA was simply a small gathering of individuals acting within their rights, but without the political backing required to form a viable opposition front.
He remarked that any attempt to compare the current efforts to the foundation of the APC would be misleading and unrealistic. In his words, such comparisons are nothing more than “a pedestrian joke.”
Despite Keyamo’s criticism, the coalition has continued to attract public interest, with many political observers watching closely to see whether it will mature into a structured political alliance capable of contesting power in 2027.
The suggestion that figures such as Atiku Abubakar and Nasir El-Rufai are working together to lead the opposition has fueled speculation that a broader alignment across political divides may be underway. Some analysts believe that this development could mark the early stages of a major political realignment ahead of the next general election.
Okonkwo’s comments have added a layer of credibility to the coalition’s potential, given his background in both law and politics, and his past involvement with high-level campaign activities within the Labour Party.
While formal confirmation of the ADA’s registration or the coalition’s full list of members has yet to be made public, insiders suggest that discussions are ongoing. The apparent lack of a unified platform or party structure, however, remains a critical weakness cited by critics like Keyamo.
Nonetheless, the 2027 election is still more than a year away, and Nigeria’s political landscape remains fluid. With inflation, economic challenges, and security issues continuing to affect daily life, public sentiment could become a decisive factor in whether a new coalition can truly capitalize on any decline in support for the APC.
Whether or not this emerging alliance coalesces into a formidable political force remains to be seen. But for now, figures like Kenneth Okonkwo are confident that a change is not only possible but already underway.
