ADC Spokesman Kenneth Okonkwo Dumps Party, Atiku For Not Choosing Igbo Running Mate
A party chieftain, Barrister Kenneth Okonkwo. has announced his withdrawal from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) after it was announced that former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi had been chosen as Running Mate for its Presidential Candidate, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
Okonkwo said he could not remain in a party that failed to concede the VP ticket to his Igbo South-East in the 2027 elections.
He wrote on his X handle:
“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.
“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.
“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.
“I did not join the coalition 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.
“I joined politics to fight for a better Nigeria where no region, Geo-Political Zone, or person will be marginalised.
“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.
“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.”
