SUNTV Global Channel | June 15, 2026
Actor-turned-politician and former Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council spokesman, Kenneth Okonkwo, has withdrawn his support for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s 2027 presidential ambition, citing what he described as the continued political marginalisation of Nigeria’s South-East region.
Okonkwo’s decision follows reports that former Minister of Transportation and ex-Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, has been selected as the vice-presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement shared on his social media platform, Okonkwo expressed disappointment over the reported choice, arguing that it would further deny the South-East a chance to occupy one of the nation’s highest political offices.
According to him, the South-East remains the only geopolitical zone that has not produced either a President or Vice President since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 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 it will continue the crude marginalisation of the South-East,” he stated.
Okonkwo noted that he had supported Atiku Abubakar based on what he believed was the former vice president’s commitment to promoting political inclusion for the South-East.
He revealed that his only request was for Atiku to demonstrate that commitment by choosing a running mate from the region.
“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,” Okonkwo said.
The former Labour Party chieftain also referenced the role of the South-East in the formation and growth of the ADC, noting that the party’s founder, Ralph Nwosu, made significant sacrifices to support the opposition coalition.
He argued that such sacrifices should not result in the continued exclusion of the region from key leadership positions.
Okonkwo warned that if the reports about Amaechi’s emergence as vice-presidential candidate are officially confirmed, he would not campaign for the Atiku-led ticket.
“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 declared.
He maintained that his political involvement has always been driven by the pursuit of fairness, equity, and national inclusion, insisting that no region should be continuously sidelined in Nigeria’s political arrangement.
The development could pose a fresh challenge for opposition coalition efforts ahead of the 2027 elections, as political stakeholders continue negotiations over power-sharing and regional representation.
