Kenneth Okonkwo, spokesperson for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has said that Peter Obi’s exit from the party left the South-East politically disadvantaged and uncertain ahead of the party’s presidential primary.
Kenneth Okonkwo made the remark on Thursday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Morning Brief.
He was responding to questions about why former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has yet to publicly acknowledge his vice-presidential nomination on his social media platforms.
Explaining the circumstances surrounding the ADC presidential primary, Okonkwo said a prominent aspirant from the South-East had initially indicated interest in contesting the party’s presidential ticket but withdrew before the process was concluded. According to him, the development left the region at a political disadvantage and created uncertainty within the party.
The Nollywood actor-turned-politician Kenneth further argued that Obi’s departure created a vacuum that was difficult to fill, noting that the Electoral Act requires a vice-presidential nominee to have been a registered member of the party for at least 21 days before the primary election. He said this provision effectively ruled out prominent figures such as Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe and Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala from being considered for the position.
“The person that represented the South-East in that calculation left unceremoniously before the conclusion of the process, that left the South-East disadvantaged and confused, and then immediately Peter Obi exited, it was as if that position that would have been given to the South-East was vacant.
“Some beautiful names were dropped off. You talked about Abaribe, you talked about Ngozi Okonjo, you talked about some nice names, but those names, they were no longer members of ADC,” he said.
BACKSTORY:
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has remained at the center of political discussions following its emergence as the platform adopted by a coalition of opposition politicians preparing for the 2027 general elections. The party has attracted several prominent political figures seeking to build a formidable alliance capable of challenging the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
In recent weeks, the coalition’s internal decisions, including its choice of presidential and vice-presidential candidates, have sparked widespread debate, particularly over regional representation and the party’s efforts to maintain political balance across the country’s six geopolitical zones.
Amid the discussions, questions have also been raised over why former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has not publicly acknowledged his vice-presidential nomination on his social media platforms, fueling speculation among political observers.
Reacting to the development, ADC presidential campaign spokesperson Kenneth Okonkwo said the South-East was placed at a disadvantage following Peter Obi’s exit from the party before the presidential primary. According to him, Obi’s departure created a vacuum that could not easily be filled because the Electoral Act requires anyone nominated as a running mate to have been a member of the party for at least 21 days before the primary election. He argued that the provision prevented the party from considering other prominent South-East figures, including Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe and Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, for the vice-presidential slot.
