Kenneth Okonkwo, spokesperson for the Atiku Abubakar presidential campaign, has predicted that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar will win all 19 states in the northern region and three states in the Southwest during 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, has already built strong 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 linked the expected opposition support to growing dissatisfaction with the economic policies of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
He cited the minimum wage and increasing petrol prices as examples of the economic difficulties 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.
He said the rising cost of living had made it increasingly difficult for workers to cover their basic expenses.
“Your 70,000 can no longer afford you half-tank if your tank is 100 liter without rent, without food,” Okonkwo said.
The former Labour Party chieftain also forecast strong support for the opposition in the South-South, saying Atiku’s running mate would help attract votes across 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?”
Turning to the Southwest, Okonkwo predicted that the opposition would secure three states, specifically naming Osun, Ondo and Ogun as areas where Atiku could emerge victorious.
“In the Southwest, we most likely get three states. We may win Osun. We won Osun last time in 2023,” he said.
He identified what he described as internal crises within the APC in Ondo and Ogun as factors that could benefit 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 also claimed that President Tinubu does not enjoy enough popularity in Lagos, despite the state being regarded as his political stronghold.
“The Tinubu has never been popular in Lagos,” he added.
Source: AIT
