Kenneth Okonkwo Withdraws Support for Atiku Abubakar Over Amaechi’s Selection as Running Mate
Actor-turned-politician and former Labour Party presidential campaign spokesman, Kenneth Okonkwo, has withdrawn his backing for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s 2027 presidential bid following the emergence of former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi as the vice-presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
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.
In the statement, Okonkwo expressed deep disappointment, describing the development as a continuation of the “crude marginalisation” of the South-East geopolitical zone in Nigeria’s political power structure.
“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 politician highlighted that the South-East has not produced a President or Vice President since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 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,” Okonkwo stated.
He further noted that the ADC was founded in 2005 by Ralphs Nwosu, an indigene of the South-East, who recently relinquished control of the party as part of a broader political coalition.
“The ADC was founded by Ralphs 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.
Reiterating his long-standing advocacy for equity, the former actor said his participation in politics has always been guided by the principles of fairness, equity, and inclusion.
“I did not join politics to assist in the further marginalisation of my own people,” he declared. “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 revealed that he had specifically urged Atiku Abubakar—who had publicly positioned himself as a pathway to a South-East presidency—to demonstrate that commitment by selecting a South-Easterner as his running mate.
“The only favour I asked Atiku Abubakar... is to show it by choosing someone from the South-East to be his Vice,” he said.
He concluded by stating that he would not campaign for any presidential ticket that excludes the South-East from both the presidential and vice-presidential slots in the 2027 election.
“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,” Okonkwo added.
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