Kenneth Okonkwo, the former spokesperson for the Labour Party’s (LP) presidential campaign council, has called on President Bola Tinubu, Peter Obi, and Atiku Abubakar to step aside from participating in the 2027 presidential election.

He argued that the trio, who represented the major political forces in the 2023 elections, have collectively failed to meet the expectations of Nigerians.

In a recent interview on Arise TV, Okonkwo, a Nollywood actor and political commentator, emphasized the need for fresh faces in Nigerian politics.

He expressed disappointment not only in the performance of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) but also in the failure of the opposition parties to unite and challenge the ruling party effectively.

Okonkwo criticized both the opposition and the ruling government for their inability to deliver on promises made to the electorate, which has resulted in widespread dissatisfaction.

He stated, “I firmly believe we need new leadership, and that’s why I’ve called for Bola Tinubu, Peter Obi, and Atiku Abubakar to step down. They have had their opportunity, and they have failed.”

The actor went on to highlight the missed opportunity for the opposition parties to leverage their numerical advantage in the National Assembly.

He pointed out that the opposition holds a majority in the House of Representatives but failed to unite and use that advantage to elect their own speaker and deputy speaker.

According to Okonkwo, if the opposition had worked together and formed stronger alliances, they could have challenged the dominance of the APC more effectively in the legislature.

Okonkwo stressed that, instead of focusing on the next election immediately after the last, opposition parties should concentrate on consolidating their forces, building alliances, and working as a collective unit to hold the ruling party accountable.

He added that a divided opposition only weakens the democratic process and enables the ruling party to retain power without meaningful challenges.

He concluded by urging political leaders, especially those who contested the 2023 presidential election, to consider stepping aside and making room for new leaders with fresh ideas and perspectives to take the reins ahead of the 2027 election.

According to him, this would be in the best interest of Nigeria’s democracy and would pave the way for meaningful progress.