Kenneth Okonkwo Withdraws His Support For Atiku For Picking Amaechi As Running Mate

Actor-turned-politician Kenneth Okonkwo has announced the withdrawal of his support for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over reports that former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has been selected as the vice-presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Okonkwo, a prominent member of the opposition coalition, said he could no longer support a presidential ticket that excludes the South-East from both the presidential and vice-presidential positions, describing such a move as a continuation of the region’s marginalisation in Nigeria’s political arrangement.

In a statement posted on his X handle on Monday, the former Labour Party presidential campaign spokesman said he received reports that the ADC had chosen its vice-presidential candidate from the South-South geopolitical zone.

“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 said.

Okonkwo argued that the South-East remains the only geopolitical zone that has not produced either a President or Vice President since the return of democratic rule in 1999.

“This Geo-Political 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.

The actor-turned-politician also referenced the history of the ADC, noting that the party was founded by former National Chairman Ralph Nwosu, an indigene of the South-East, who later relinquished control of the party to facilitate the opposition coalition.

According to him, Nwosu’s decision was motivated by the desire to build a stronger political platform for national transformation and not to further sideline his region.

“The ADC was founded by Ralph Nwosu from the South-East in 2005. 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,” Okonkwo said.

He maintained that the South-East had already made significant concessions within the coalition arrangement and deserved consideration for the vice-presidential slot.

“I did not join the coalition to assist in the further marginalisation of my own people,” he said.

“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.”

Okonkwo stressed that his involvement in politics has always been driven by the pursuit of fairness, equity and national inclusion.

“I joined politics to fight for a better Nigeria where no region, Geo-Political Zone, or person will be marginalised,” he said.

The former presidential campaign spokesman further revealed that he had personally urged Atiku to demonstrate his commitment to the political advancement of the South-East by selecting a running mate from the region.

“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.

Okonkwo said that if reports of Amaechi’s emergence are eventually confirmed, he would no longer participate in campaigning for the ADC presidential ticket.

“If it is confirmed that he has chosen a candidate from the South-South, I wish him well,” he said.

“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.”