Kenneth Okonkwo Withdraws Support For Atiku Over VP Candidacy

Nollywood actor and politician Kenneth Okonkwo has withdrawn his support for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar following the announcement of former Transport Minister, Rotimi Amaechi, as his vice presidential running mate.

Okonkwo made his position known in a statement issued on his X (formerly Twitter) account on Monday, shortly after reports emerged that Atiku had selected Amaechi as his running mate for the 2027 presidential election.

Expressing concern over what he described as continued political marginalisation of the South-East, Okonkwo warned that the development, if confirmed, would further deepen regional imbalance in Nigeria’s political leadership.

“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,” he wrote.

He argued that the South-East geopolitical zone has not produced either a President or Vice President since 1999, describing the situation as unjust and politically exclusionary.

“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 stated.

Okonkwo also referenced the origins of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), noting that it was founded by Ralphs Nwosu, who hails from the South-East, and argued that the spirit of sacrifice behind recent coalition arrangements should not translate into exclusion of the region.

“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 said.

He further insisted that his involvement in politics was driven by the desire to promote fairness and inclusivity across all regions.

“I did not join politics 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,” Okonkwo added.

The actor-turned-politician also said he had earlier urged Atiku Abubakar to demonstrate commitment to South-East inclusion through his choice of running mate.

“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 stated.

Okonkwo stated that if the reports of Amaechi’s selection are confirmed, he would no longer support the 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 said.

Kenneth Okonkwo Withdraws Support For Atiku Over VP Candidacy is first published on The Whistler Newspaper