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Kenneth Okonkwo Threatens to Withdraw Campaign Support Over ADC Running Mate Choice
A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Kenneth Okonkwo, has declared that he will not campaign for the party’s 2027 presidential ticket if the vice-presidential candidate does not come from Nigeria’s South-East region.
Okonkwo made the statement following reports that Atiku Abubakar, the ADC presidential candidate for the 2027 election, may have selected a running mate from the South-South geopolitical zone. Reports indicate that former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi has emerged as the proposed vice-presidential choice.
In a statement shared on social media, Okonkwo argued that excluding the South-East from both positions would continue what he described as the long-standing political marginalisation of the region. He noted that the South-East has not produced either a President or Vice President since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999.
Okonkwo also referenced the origins of the ADC, stating that sacrifices made by leaders from the South-East to support coalition efforts should not result in the region being excluded from key positions. He maintained that his political involvement is driven by the desire for a more inclusive Nigeria and insisted he would only support a presidential ticket that reflects that principle.
The development adds another dimension to conversations around regional balance and power-sharing ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
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