Former presidential spokesperson and lawyer, Kenneth Okonkwo, has raised concerns over reports that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) may have selected its 2027 vice-presidential candidate from the South-South region, warning that such a move would further marginalise the South-East.
In a statement, Okonkwo said he had seen reports on social media suggesting that the party’s vice-presidential slot had been zoned to the South-South. He argued that if the reports prove accurate, it would be unfair to the South-East, which he noted has not produced either a President or Vice President since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999.
According to him, denying the South-East the opportunity to occupy either the presidential or vice-presidential position on the ADC ticket in 2027 would amount to the continuation of political exclusion.
Okonkwo also referenced the role of former ADC National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, whom he said founded the party in 2005 and later relinquished control of the platform to support the coalition movement aimed at producing a better Nigeria.
He maintained that the sacrifices made by South-East stakeholders within the coalition should not result in the region being sidelined in the party’s power-sharing arrangement.
The actor-turned-politician further stated that he joined the coalition with the belief that it would promote fairness and inclusion, stressing that he would find it difficult to campaign for any presidential ticket in 2027 that does not feature a candidate of South-East origin as either President or Vice President.
Okonkwo added that the only request he made to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, whom he described as someone who had publicly spoken about supporting a South-East pathway to the presidency, was to demonstrate that commitment by selecting a running mate from the region.
He concluded by saying that if reports of a South-South vice-presidential candidate are eventually confirmed, he would wish the ticket well but would not be favourably disposed to campaigning for it.
More details here...
