Former spokesperson for Labour Party’s 2023 presidential campaign, Kenneth Okonkwo, has advocated for an experienced politician from the “old cadre” to challenge the All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television, Okonkwo expressed skepticism over the viability of a younger candidate emerging victorious in Nigeria’s current political climate, which he described as being dominated by “political sharks.”
Okonkwo, a lawyer and former actor, cited former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as an example, noting that the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) could have been regarded as a national hero if he had won and steered the country back to the governance style of the Obasanjo administration.
He argued that political figures from the middle or lower cadre have historically failed to ascend to leadership in Nigeria, stressing the need for a candidate with both experience and a strong moral compass.
“In Nigeria, we need a man of conscience who is experienced—someone from the old cadre—who has resolved to create a new Nigeria,” Okonkwo stated.
