Kenneth Okonkwo, Lawyer and politician has clarified his position on the choice of as the vice presidential candidate to on the platform of the (ADC) ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television on Thursday, Okonkwo dismissed reports suggesting that he rejected Amaechi’s nomination as Atiku’s running mate.
According to him, his earlier comments reflected a geopolitical preference that the vice presidential slot should ideally have gone to the South-East.
However, he explained that legal and party requirements made that option practically impossible.
Okonkwo said that under the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026, anyone seeking to contest in the party’s primary election must have been a registered member of the party at least 21 days before the primary.
He noted that the South-East politicians he would have preferred were not registered members of the ADC within the required timeframe, making them ineligible for consideration.
“I said I expected that the vice presidential candidate should come from the South-East. It was a geopolitical expression, not directed against any individual,” he explained.
He added that those who had actively indicated interest in contesting the ADC presidential ticket included Atiku Abubakar, Rotimi Amaechi, Hayatu-deen and Peter Obi. Following Peter Obi’s exit from the race, he said the South-East bloc became politically disadvantaged in the contest for the vice presidential nomination.
Okonkwo further argued that Amaechi’s strong performance during the party’s presidential primary, where he secured hundreds of delegates’ votes, made him a significant stakeholder whose supporters could not simply be ignored.
He also revealed that his concern was not merely about the eventual choice but about the need for consultation.
According to him, the party leadership should have engaged leaders from the South-East to explain the constitutional and political constraints surrounding the selection process.
Such consultations, he said, would have helped reduce feelings of exclusion in the region.
The former Labour Party spokesperson also disclosed that Atiku Abubakar was outside Nigeria when the announcement of the vice presidential candidate was initially made.
He said that upon returning to the country, the former Vice President initiated consultations with relevant stakeholders before the process continued, describing the move as an example of democratic leadership.
The clarification comes amid growing political realignments and heightened preparations by major political parties ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
Source: Channels Television interview as reported headlinewave.ng
