Kenneth Okonkwo Withdraws Support for Atiku Over Amaechi’s Emergence as Running Mate

Actor-turned-politician and former Labour Party presidential campaign spokesman, Kenneth Okonkwo, has withdrawn his support for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s 2027 presidential ambition following the selection of Rotimi Amaechi as the vice-presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

He made his position known in a statement posted on his X account on Monday, shortly after reports confirmed Amaechi’s emergence as Atiku’s running mate.

“I heard from social media that the ADC has picked its vice-presidential candidate from the South-South, and if this is true, it is unfortunate as it continues the marginalisation of the South-East,” he said.

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Okonkwo said the South-East has not produced a President or Vice President since Nigeria returned to democratic rule in 1999, describing the development as political exclusion.

“To deny the South-East the opportunity to produce either the President or Vice President in 2027 amounts to continued marginalisation,” he stated.

He noted that the ADC was originally founded by Ralphs Nwosu, an indigene of the South-East, who later relinquished control of the party as part of a broader political coalition arrangement.

“The party was founded by Ralphs Nwosu from the South-East in 2005, and his sacrifice in 2025 to join a coalition was meant to promote a better Nigeria, not to further marginalise his people,” he said.

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Okonkwo said his political involvement has consistently been guided by principles of fairness, equity, and inclusion in national leadership.

“I did not join politics to participate in the marginalisation of my own people,” he said.

He added that he had earlier appealed to Atiku Abubakar to demonstrate inclusivity by selecting a running mate from the South-East, given his public commitment to regional balance.

“The only request I made to Atiku was that he should show commitment to fairness by choosing a vice-presidential candidate from the South-East,” he said.

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Okonkwo concluded that he would not support or campaign for any presidential ticket in 2027 that excludes the South-East from either the presidency or vice-presidency.

“I will not campaign for any ticket that does not include a person of South-East origin as President or Vice President in 2027,” he stated.

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