Following the official selection of former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, as the vice-presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) alongside Atiku Abubakar for the 2027 presidential election, prominent politician and lawyer, Kenneth Okonkwo, has expressed his strong displeasure.
Reacting to the development on his official X handle @realkenokonkwo, the prominent politician and lawyer criticized the choice, stating that selecting a running mate from the South-South zone perpetuates the exclusion of the South-East region.
“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 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.
“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 in 2027,” he wrote.
