Barrister Kenneth Okonkwo, member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has withdrawn support for the party’s presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar over the choice of a former Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi as his running mate for the 2027 general elections.
ADC announced Amaechi‘s choice earlier in the day.
Okonkwo, a former Nollywood star, hinted his decision of the absence of the Southeast on the ADC presidential ticket.
He wrote on his X account: “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 Southeast.
“This geo-political sone has neither produced a President or 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.
“The ADC was founded by Ralph Nwosu from the Southeast 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.
“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.
“I joined politics to fight for a better Nigeria where no region, geo-political zone, or person will be marginalised.
“The only favour I asked Atiku Abubakar, who openly declared that he is the pathway to the presidency of the Southeast, is to show it by choosing someone from the Southeast to be his Vice.
“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″.
