2027: Atiku will win 19 states in North, 3 in Southwest — Kenneth Okonkwo - Vanguard News

Kenneth Okonkwo, spokesperson for the Atiku Abubakar presidential campaign has projected that former Vice President will win all 19 states in the northern region 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 the major contenders ahead of the election.

According to him, the African Democratic Congress, ADC, on whose platform Atiku is expected to contest, has already gained sufficient support across the North.

“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 frustration with the economic policies of the President Bola Tinubu administration.

He cited the minimum wage and rising petrol prices as examples of the economic pressures facing 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 added that the economic situation had made it increasingly difficult for workers to meet basic needs.

“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 predicted gains for the opposition in the South-South, saying Atiku’s running mate would attract support 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?”

Okonkwo further projected that the opposition would win three states in the Southwest, identifying 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 pointed to what he described as crises within the APC in Ondo and Ogun states as factors that could work in favour of 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 Tinubu lacked sufficient popularity in Lagos, the President’s political stronghold.

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

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