Actor-turned-politician Kenneth Okonkwo has withdrawn his backing for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar after reports emerged that former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi had been selected as the vice-presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ahead of the 2027 general election.
Okonkwo made his position known in a statement shared on his X account on Monday, shortly after news of Amaechi’s nomination surfaced.
The former spokesperson for the Labour Party presidential campaign expressed dissatisfaction with what he described as the persistent political exclusion of the South-East region from Nigeria’s highest elective offices.
According to him, if the reports about Amaechi’s emergence as Atiku’s running mate are accurate, the decision would further deepen the marginalisation of the South-East.
He argued that since Nigeria’s return to democratic governance in 1999, the South-East has neither produced a President nor a Vice President, making its continued exclusion from the ADC ticket a serious setback for equity and inclusion.
Okonkwo maintained that denying the region either the presidency or vice presidency in 2027 would reinforce long-standing grievances about political imbalance and unfair representation.
The politician also highlighted the role of the ADC’s founder, Ralphs Nwosu, who hails from the South-East, noting that the party’s transition into a broader coalition was made possible through sacrifices by leaders from the region. He said those sacrifices should not ultimately result in the exclusion of the South-East from key leadership positions.
Emphasising that his political involvement has always been guided by principles of justice, fairness and inclusiveness, Okonkwo said he could not support any arrangement that contributes to what he sees as the continued sidelining of his people.
He further revealed that he had previously urged Atiku to demonstrate his commitment to the South-East by selecting a running mate from the region. According to him, Atiku had often portrayed himself as a pathway to the South-East’s eventual emergence in the presidency, and choosing a vice-presidential candidate from the zone would have reflected that commitment.
Okonkwo stated that if Amaechi’s selection is officially confirmed, he wishes Atiku well but will not participate in campaigning for any presidential ticket that excludes the South-East from both the presidential and vice-presidential positions.
He concluded by reiterating that his support in the 2027 election would only go to a ticket that accommodates the South-East at either the presidential or vice-presidential level, insisting that anything less would amount to a continuation of the region’s political marginalisation.