Kenneth Okonkwo faults ADC for picking South-South VP, says South-East being sidelined

Kenneth Okonkwo, a prominent figure in the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has voiced strong disapproval of the party's reported selection of a vice-presidential candidate from the South-South region for the 2027 general elections. Okonkwo stated on Monday that this decision risks deepening the perceived marginalization of the South-East in national politics. He expressed his reaction on social media, calling the move "unfortunate" and asserting that it would continue the exclusion of the South-East from the presidency or vice presidency since Nigeria's return to democracy in 1999.

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I heard from social media that ADC has picked its vice presidential candidate from the South-South.

"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," Okonkwo stated. He referenced the party's founding by Ralphs Nwosu from the South-East in 2005, arguing that its history should reflect equitable distribution of leadership. Okonkwo emphasized that his involvement in the coalition was not to support political exclusion, but to promote equity in leadership.

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If this is true, it is unfortunate, as this will continue the crude marginalisation of the South-East.

Okonkwo also revealed that he had previously urged former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to consider a South-East candidate for the vice-presidential slot, noting that Abubakar had publicly stated he was the "pathway to the presidency of the South-East." Okonkwo declared that his support for any presidential ticket in 2027 would hinge on the inclusion of a candidate from the South-East, either as president or vice president. "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 concluded.

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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.