Kenneth Okonkwo Withdraws Support for Atiku, Opposes ADC Ticket Over South-East Marginalisation

Kenneth Okonkwo Withdraws Support for Atiku, Opposes ADC Ticket Over South-East Marginalisation

Nollywood actor and politician, Kenneth Okonkwo, has withdrawn his support for the presidential ambition of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Atiku Abubakar, ahead of the 2027 general elections, citing what he described as the continued marginalisation of the South-East geopolitical zone.

Okonkwo's decision followed reports that the ADC had selected former Rivers State Governor and ex-Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, from the South-South region, as Atiku's vice-presidential running mate for the 2027 election.

Reacting to the development, Okonkwo said any political arrangement that excludes the South-East from the nation's top two executive positions would amount to a continuation of the injustice suffered by the region since Nigeria's return to democratic rule in 1999.

He stressed that the South-East has neither produced a President nor a Vice President in the Fourth Republic, arguing that denying the zone the opportunity to occupy either office under the ADC platform would further deepen feelings of exclusion.

The former Labour Party presidential campaign spokesperson also noted that ADC founder, Ralphs Nwosu, an indigene of the South-East, made significant sacrifices by relinquishing control of the party in 2025 to strengthen the opposition coalition. According to him, such sacrifices should not result in the further marginalisation of the region.

Okonkwo maintained that he would not campaign for any presidential ticket that does not feature a candidate of South-East extraction either as President or Vice President in the 2027 elections.

In a statement shared on his official X handle, he said:

"I heard from social media that ADC has picked its vice-presidential candidate from the South-South. If this is true, it is unfortunate because it will continue the crude marginalisation of the South-East.

"This geopolitical zone has neither produced a President nor a Vice President since 1999. To deny the South-East the opportunity to produce either the President or Vice President under the ADC in 2027 will amount to perpetuating that marginalisation.

"The ADC was founded by Ralphs Nwosu from the South-East in 2005. He made the sacrifice of giving up the party in 2025 for the coalition to usher in a better Nigeria. He could not have made that sacrifice only for his people to be marginalised.

"I did not join the coalition to assist in the marginalisation of my people. If we sacrificed both the National Chairman position and the presidency, it would amount to unpardonable injustice to deny us the vice-presidential slot in 2027.

"I joined politics to fight for a better Nigeria where no region, geopolitical zone, or individual will be marginalised.

"The only favour I asked of Atiku Abubakar, who openly declared that he is the pathway to the presidency of the South-East, was to demonstrate it by choosing someone from the South-East as his running mate.

"If it is confirmed that he has chosen a candidate from the South-South, I wish him well. However, 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 President in 2027."