Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Barrister Kenneth Okonkwo, has withdrawn his support for the party’s presidential candidate, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, following the nomination of former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi as the vice‑presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.
Okonkwo announced his decision in a statement posted on his X account on Monday, shortly after reports confirmed Amaechi’s selection as Atiku’s running mate. The ADC had officially unveiled Amaechi as its vice‑presidential candidate, pairing him with Atiku on what party leaders described as a “unity and rescue ticket”. Announcing the decision, the ADC National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said Amaechi’s emergence followed broad consultations within the party and reflected his strong performance as runner‑up in the party’s presidential primaries as well as his track record of service to Rivers State and the nation.
Reacting to the development, Okonkwo expressed disappointment over what he described as the continued exclusion of the South‑East from Nigeria’s highest political offices. “I heard from the social media that ADC has picked its vice‑presidential candidate from the South‑South. If this is true, it is unfortunate, as this will continue the crude marginalisation of the South‑East,” he wrote.
The actor‑turned‑politician argued that the South‑East has remained sidelined in Nigeria’s power‑sharing arrangement since the return of democratic rule in 1999. “This geopolitical zone has neither produced a President nor Vice President since 1999. To deny the South‑East the opportunity to produce the President or Vice President in ADC in 2027 will amount to perpetuating the marginalisation,” he stated.
Okonkwo referenced the history of the ADC, noting that the party was founded in 2005 by Ralphs Nwosu, an indigene of the South‑East. He argued that recent political sacrifices made by leaders from the region should not result in further exclusion. “The ADC was founded by Ralphs Nwosu from the South‑East. He made the sacrifice to give up the party in 2025 for the coalition to usher in a better Nigeria. He couldn’t have made that sacrifice to marginalise his own people,” he said.
The former Labour Party presidential campaign spokesman maintained that his involvement in politics has always been driven by the pursuit of fairness, equity and inclusion. “I did not join the coalition to assist in the further marginalisation of my own people. I am of the opinion that if we made a sacrifice to give up the National Chairman and the President, it will amount to unpardonable injustice to deny us the Vice President in 2027,” he added.
Okonkwo further disclosed that he had previously urged Atiku to demonstrate his commitment to South‑East inclusion through his choice of running mate. “The only favour I asked Atiku Abubakar, who openly declared that he is the pathway to the presidency of the South‑East, is to show it by choosing someone from the South‑East to be his Vice,” he stated.
He concluded by saying he would not support any presidential ticket that excludes the South‑East from both the presidential and vice‑presidential positions. “If it is confirmed that he has chosen a candidate from the South‑South, I wish him well. I am not favourably disposed to campaigning for any presidential ticket that does not have a person of South‑East origin as President or Vice in 2027,” he said.
The withdrawal of support by a prominent figure from the South‑East has added to the internal tensions within the ADC, even as the party seeks to build a broad opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 presidential election. The ADC has expressed confidence that the Atiku‑Amaechi ticket would provide Nigerians with a strong alternative to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), but the discontent voiced by Okonkwo highlights the challenges of balancing regional representation within the coalition.
As of the time of this report, the ADC leadership has not issued an official response to Okonkwo’s withdrawal of support.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com ✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments