Why I joined coalition – Kenneth Okonkwo

A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Kenneth Okonkwo, has expressed concern over reports circulating on social media that the party may have selected its 2027 vice-presidential candidate from Nigeria’s South-South region, warning that such a move would further marginalise the South-East.

In a statement, the politician said that if the reports prove true, it would be unfortunate and would continue what he described as the longstanding exclusion of the South-East from the nation’s highest political offices.

According to him, the South-East remains the only geo-political zone that has neither produced a President nor a Vice President since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999. He argued that denying the region the opportunity to occupy either position on the ADC ticket in 2027 would amount to perpetuating injustice against the zone.

The politician also recalled that the ADC was founded in 2005 by Ralphs Nwosu, an indigene of the South-East, who later relinquished control of the party in 2025 to facilitate the opposition coalition aimed at building a better Nigeria.

He maintained that Nwosu’s sacrifice could not have been intended to sideline his own region and insisted that members of the South-East made significant concessions by giving up both the party’s national chairmanship and presidential ticket.

“I did not join the coalition to assist in the further marginalisation of my own people,” he stated, adding that denying the South-East the vice-presidential slot after those sacrifices would amount to an “unpardonable injustice.”

The party stalwart said his involvement in politics has always been driven by the desire to build a Nigeria where no region, geo-political zone, or individual suffers discrimination or exclusion.

He further revealed that the only request he made to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who has publicly spoken about paving the way for a South-East presidency, was to demonstrate that commitment by selecting a running mate from the region.

The politician warned that if it is eventually confirmed that the vice-presidential candidate has been chosen from the South-South, he would not be inclined to campaign for any presidential ticket that does not feature a South-Easterner as either the presidential or vice-presidential candidate in the 2027 general election.

He nevertheless wished Atiku well, while reiterating his position that the South-East deserves representation at the highest level of the

coalition’s ticket.