2027: Kenneth Okonkwo Makes U-turn, Withdraws Support For Atiku Over VP Choice

By Rotela Oguns

Kenneth Okonkwo, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has registered his disapproval over the choice of party’s vice-presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections.

Okonkwo vowed not to throw his weight behind the opposition party’s presidential candidate as long as a Nigerian from other geopolitical zone apart from the South East is picked as the running mate of Atiku Abubakar, the ADC’s presidential candidate.

He made this known in a statement posted on his verified Twitter handle on Monday following the announcement of former transportation minister as Atiku’s running mate on the ADC’s presidential ticket.

The ADC chieftain described the choice of Amaechi, who is from the South South geopolitical zone, as “a crude marginalisation of the South-East”.

“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.

“This Geo-Political Zone 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 Nollywood actor -turned – politician, stressed that a Nigerian of Igbo extraction founded the ADC in 2005 before handing over to prominent politicians two decades later, describing the decision as a sacrifice he could not have made to marginalize his people.

He added that he would not be part of any arrangement that seeks to perpetuate the marginalisation of his South Eastern people.

“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.

“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.” Okonkwo said.

He added, “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 South-East, is to show it by choosing someone from the South-East to be his Vice (sic).”

The politician stressed that he would not be part of a campaign that won’t feature someone from the South East on the ticket.

“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 concluded.