‘The Only Favour I Asked Atiku’ – Kenneth Okonkwo Rejects Amaechi As ADC’s Vice Presidential Candidate

African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain, Kenneth Okonkwo, has rejected the party’s choice of former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, as its Vice-Presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 election.

Announcing the decision in a statement sent to Naija News on Monday, ADC National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said Amaechi’s emergence followed broad consultations within the party and reflected his strong performance as runner-up in the party’s presidential primaries as well as his track record of service to his State and the country.

According to the ADC, Amaechi’s extensive experience across both the legislative and executive arms of government, as former Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, two-term Governor of Rivers State, and former Minister of Transportation, makes him uniquely qualified to complement Atiku’s leadership, strengthen the party’s national appeal, and bolster its campaign to offer Nigerians an experienced and credible alternative ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Reacting to the development in a post via his 𝕏 handle, Kenneth Okonkwo asserted that such a decision would amount to the continued marginalisation of the South-East, which, according to him, had neither produced a president nor vice president since 1999.

The Nollywood actor cum politician referenced the sacrifices made by the former ADC National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, who relinquished control of the party to facilitate the coalition aimed at producing a better Nigeria.

Okonkwo maintained that his decision to join the coalition was not to further assist in the marginalisation of the South-East region, stressing that he would not be willing to campaign for the ADC presidential ticket in 2027.

According to him, the only request he made to former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, who openly declared that he is the pathway to the presidency of the South-East, was to demonstrate that commitment by selecting a running mate from the region.

He said, “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 nor 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 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.

“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.

“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 President in 2027.”