I won’t campaign for any presidential ticket without S’East candidate – Kenneth Okonkwo

Actor-turned-politician and African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain, Kenneth Okonkwo, has said he will not support or campaign for any presidential ticket that does not include a candidate of South-East origin as either President or Vice President in the 2027 general elections.

Okonkwo made the declaration on Monday in a statement reacting to reports that the ADC picked former Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, as its vice-presidential candidate alongside former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

He warned that if the report is confirmed, it would amount to continued political marginalisation of the South-East geopolitical zone.

“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,” he said.

According to him, the South-East has remained excluded from the highest levels of executive power since the return to democracy in 1999, a situation he described as unjust and unacceptable.

“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 further argued that fairness within the emerging coalition politics should reflect Nigeria’s diversity, especially in the sharing of top political offices.

Okonkwo also referenced the origins of the ADC, noting that its founding figure, Ralphs Nwosu, is from the South-East, and insisting that the spirit of the party should reflect inclusivity.

“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,” he said.

The politician maintained that his involvement in coalition politics was motivated by the pursuit of equity and national unity, stressing that he would not endorse any arrangement that deepens regional exclusion.

“I did not join the coalition to assist in marginalisation of my own people further. 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,” he said.

He added that his engagement in politics is driven by a desire for fairness across all geopolitical zones in Nigeria.

“I joined politics to fight for a better Nigeria where no region, Geo-Political Zone, or person will be marginalised,” Okonkwo said.

Okonkwo also disclosed that he had previously urged former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to ensure inclusivity in his ticket choice, arguing that such a decision would strengthen national unity and political balance.

“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,” he stated.

Reiterating his position, he warned that he would withdraw support for any presidential arrangement that excludes the South-East from the top two positions.

“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 added.