Kenneth Okonkwo faults ADC for picking South-South VP, says South-East being sidelined

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A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, Kenneth Okonkwo, has faulted the selection of the party’s vice-presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections, warning that it could deepen what he described as the marginalisation of the South-East in national politics.

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Okonkwo, in a statement shared on his social media account on Monday, said he was reacting to reports that the party had picked a South-South candidate for the position, a move he said would further exclude the South-East from the presidency or vice presidency since 1999.

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“I heard from social media that ADC has picked its vice presidential candidate from the South-South.

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“If this is true, it is unfortunate, as this will continue the crude marginalisation of the South-East,” he said.

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He noted that the South-East has neither produced a President nor Vice President since 1999, adding that excluding the zone again in 2027 would amount to continued political marginalisation.

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“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 added.

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Okonkwo also referenced the origin of the party, stating that it was founded by Ralphs Nwosu from the South-East in 2005, and argued that its founding history should reflect fairness in leadership distribution.

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“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 noted.

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He added that his involvement in the coalition was not to support political exclusion, insisting that equity in leadership remained a key reason for his participation in politics.

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“I did not join the coalition to assist in the further marginalisation of my own people,” he said.

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Okonkwo also said he had raised concerns with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, urging him to consider a South-East candidate for the vice-presidential slot, and warned that his support would depend on such inclusion.

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“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.

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He added that he would not support any presidential ticket that excludes the South-East from either the presidential or vice-presidential position in 2027.

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“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,” he said.

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The development comes as the ADC announced former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi as its vice-presidential candidate for the 2027 election, pairing him with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on what the party described as a “unity and rescue ticket.”n

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The party said the choice was influenced by Amaechi’s performance in its presidential primary, where he emerged runner-up, as well as his experience in governance.

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