Nollywood actor and politician Kenneth Okonkwo has distanced himself from former Vice President Atiku Abubakar after reports emerged that former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi had been chosen as the vice-presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the 2027 election.
Okonkwo announced his decision in a statement posted on his X page on Monday, expressing disappointment over what he sees as the continued exclusion of the South-East from Nigeria’s highest political offices.
“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 wrote.
The former Labour Party presidential campaign spokesperson argued that the South-East has not produced either a President or Vice President since Nigeria returned to democratic rule in 1999.
“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.
Okonkwo also pointed to the history of the ADC, noting that the party was founded in 2005 by Ralph Nwosu, an indigene of the South-East, and said recent sacrifices made by leaders from the region should not lead to further political exclusion.
“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,” he said.
Reaffirming his stance, Okonkwo said his involvement in politics has always been guided by the principles of fairness, equity and inclusion.
“I did not join politics 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,” he added.
