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

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.

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.

“I heard from 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 said.

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.

“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.

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.

“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.

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.

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

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.

“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.

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.

“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.

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.”

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.