Actor-turned-politician and former Labour Party presidential campaign spokesperson, Kenneth Okonkwo, has warned the opposition coalition against sidelining the South-East in the selection of a vice-presidential candidate for the 2027 election.
In a statement posted on social media, Okonkwo said reports that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) had picked its vice-presidential candidate from the South-South, if confirmed, would amount to “crude marginalisation” of the South-East.
Recall Atiku Abubakar had officially selected the first runner up of the ADC primaries, former Governor and minister Rotimi Amaechi as his running mate earlier today.
“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 said.
Okonkwo argued that the South-East had neither produced a President nor Vice President since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999 and should not be excluded from the ADC ticket in 2027.
“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,” he stated.
He also referenced the role of ADC founder Ralph Nwosu, saying the party leader made a significant sacrifice by handing over the party structure to the 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.
According to him, the South-East had already conceded key positions within the coalition and should not be denied the vice-presidential slot.
“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 further disclosed that his only request to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, whom he said had presented himself as a pathway to a South-East presidency, was to demonstrate that commitment by choosing a running mate from the region.
“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.
He concluded by stating that he would be unwilling to campaign for any presidential ticket that excludes the South-East from either the presidential or vice-presidential position.
“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.”
