Kenneth Okonkwo, the actor-turned-politician, has announced his withdrawal of support for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar following the selection of former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi as the vice-presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the 2027 election.
Okonkwo's Statement on Marginalisation
In a statement posted on his X account on Monday, Okonkwo expressed disappointment over what he described as the continued exclusion of the South-East region from Nigeria's top political offices. He noted that the South-East has not produced a president or vice president since the return of democracy in 1999.
"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.
Historical Context of ADC
Okonkwo referenced the party's founding by Ralphs Nwosu, an indigene of the South-East, in 2005. He argued that recent sacrifices by leaders from the region should not lead to further exclusion. "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 stated.
Call for Fairness and Inclusion
The former Labour Party presidential campaign spokesman emphasised that his political involvement has always been driven by fairness, equity, and inclusion. "I did not join politics 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 revealed that he had previously urged Atiku to demonstrate 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 said.
Final Decision
Okonkwo concluded that 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 stated.
