Former Labour Party chieftain Kenneth Okonkwo has voiced strong concerns over reports that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) picked its 2027 vice-presidential candidate from the South-South region, saying the decision could further sideline the South-East politically.
In a statement shared on his social media pages, Okonkwo argued that the South-East has remained politically disadvantaged since Nigeria returned to democratic rule in 1999, noting that the region is yet to produce either a President or Vice President.
His reaction followed reports that the ADC selected former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi as the running mate to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for the 2027 presidential election.
The party announced the development through a statement issued in Abuja by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, after consultations with party leaders, coalition members and stakeholders from different parts of the country.
Reacting to the decision, Okonkwo said it would be unfair for the South-East to miss out on the vice-presidential position, especially considering the sacrifices made by leaders from the region for the growth of the party.
He pointed out that the ADC was founded in 2005 by Ralph Nwosu, an indigene of the South-East, and recalled that Nwosu willingly handed over the party structure in 2025 to support a broader political coalition aimed at reshaping Nigeria’s future.
According to Okonkwo, such sacrifices should not result in the continued exclusion of the region from key political positions.
He also revealed that one of the issues he discussed with Atiku Abubakar was the need to demonstrate commitment to South-East inclusion by selecting a running mate from the zone. He noted that Atiku had previously spoken about supporting the emergence of a South-East president in the future.
Okonkwo stressed that his involvement in politics has always been driven by the desire to build a Nigeria where every region and ethnic group enjoys equal opportunities and fair representation.
The actor-turned-politician warned that if the reports about the vice-presidential choice are confirmed, he would find it difficult to support any presidential ticket that excludes the South-East from both the presidential and vice-presidential positions.
He maintained that fairness, equity and inclusion should remain important principles in Nigeria’s political process ahead of the 2027 general elections.