2027: Atiku will Win 19 Northern States, 3 In Southwest — Okonkwo

Kenneth Okonkwo, spokesperson for the Atiku Abubakar presidential campaign, has projected that the former vice president will win all 19 northern states and three states in the Southwest in the 2027 presidential election.

Okonkwo made the projection during an interview on AIT’s Democracy Today on Monday, while assessing the chances of major contenders ahead of the election.

According to him, the African Democratic Congress (ADC), on whose platform Atiku is expected to contest the election, has already secured significant support across the northern region.

“Let me tell you the path to victory for Atiku. The 19 states of the north have fallen for ADC. Settled,” he said.

Okonkwo attributed the projected support for the opposition to growing dissatisfaction with the economic policies of the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

He cited the minimum wage and rising petrol prices as examples of the economic challenges confronting Nigerians.

“This government is irrational from their decisions. They are anti-people, and the people have gotten the message because you’re paying somebody 70,000 as minimum wage, and fuel is almost N1,500,” he said.

The former Labour Party chieftain said the economic situation had made it increasingly difficult for workers to meet their basic needs.

“Your 70,000 can no longer afford you half-tank if your tank is 100 liter without rent, without food,” Okonkwo said.

Okonkwo also projected significant gains for the opposition in the South-South, saying Atiku’s running mate would help attract votes in the region.

“South South, we are going to win in some states, and we’re going to get more than two,” he said.

“Then we’re going to get more than 25 percent in all the South-South states because who will not like their own son to be vice president?”

In the Southwest, Okonkwo predicted that the opposition would win three states, naming Osun, Ondo and Ogun as likely targets.

“In the Southwest, we most likely get three states. We may win Osun. We won Osun last time in 2023,” he said.

He also cited what he described as internal crises within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo and Ogun states as factors that could favour the opposition.

“Then Ondo, because there are a lot of crises in the APC. Yes, Ogun. There are a lot of crises,” he said.

Okonkwo further claimed that President Tinubu lacked sufficient popularity in Lagos, traditionally regarded as his political stronghold.

“The Tinubu has never been popular in Lagos,” he added.