Kenneth Okonkwo Explains Why South-East Lost ADC Vice Presidential Slot After Peter Obi’s Exit

The spokesperson for African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, Kenneth Okonkwo, has said Peter Obi’s departure from the party left the South-East at a disadvantage during the selection of the party’s vice-presidential candidate for the 2027 election.

Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Thursday, the Nollywood actor-turned-politician addressed questions over why former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi has yet to publicly acknowledge his nomination as Atiku’s running mate on his social media platforms.

Okonkwo said the political dynamics within the party changed significantly after a prominent South-East aspirant exited the presidential race before the primary was concluded. According to him, that development created uncertainty for the region and ultimately affected its chances of producing the vice-presidential candidate.

He explained that Peter Obi’s exit effectively left the South-East without a viable contender in the party’s calculations, making it difficult to retain the position within the region.

“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,” Okonkwo said.

He added that several respected figures from the South-East, including Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe and former World Bank Managing Director Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, were considered in discussions. However, he noted that the Electoral Act prevented the ADC from selecting them because they were not registered members of the party at least 21 days before the presidential primary.

According to Okonkwo, the legal requirement meant the party could not nominate individuals who were not eligible under the electoral guidelines, regardless of their political stature or public appeal.

His comments come amid ongoing discussions over the ADC’s presidential ticket and the party’s strategy ahead of the 2027 general election, following the emergence of Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate and Rotimi Amaechi as his running mate.