(Kenneth Okonkwo. Photo Credit: Daily Post)
Kenneth Okonkwo, spokesperson for African Democratic Congress presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, has denied claims that he opposed the selection of Rotimi Amaechi as the party’s vice presidential candidate.
He clarified that no one from the South-East had been eligible for the running-mate position, as prospective candidates from the zone were not registered members of the ADC ahead of the primary election.
Okonkwo had earlier pushed back against the Atiku-Amaechi ticket after it was announced, criticising the party’s decision to pick the former Minister of Transportation, from the South-South, as running mate, and arguing that the position should instead have gone to someone from the South-East.
He had also said he would not campaign for Atiku if his running mate was not drawn from that region.
Speaking on a television interview on Thursday, however, Okonkwo was asked whether he still held that position and said he was unsure where such a claim had come from.
Asked directly whether he now supports Amaechi as the ADC’s vice presidential candidate, he said Amaechi was the party’s choice and that of every loyal party member.
He explained that his earlier comment about wanting a running mate from the South-East was a geopolitical expression rather than a reference to any specific individual, and that he understood the limitations imposed by the Electoral Act 2026, which requires that anyone contesting must have been a registered party member at least 21 days before the primary, meaning the South-East candidates he might have preferred were simply not eligible under the rules.
He noted that Amaechi, Hayatu-Deen, Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi were the individuals who had shown interest in the presidential race, and that Obi’s exit threw the South-East’s position into confusion, making it necessary to select a running mate who had already demonstrated genuine interest in taking on the demanding task of national campaigning.
He pointed out that Amaechi secured a little over 500 votes at the primary, arguing that such support could not simply be dismissed.
He said his concern had been that, even with the existing constraints, party leadership should have engaged South-East stakeholders directly to explain the limitations so they could properly inform their people.
He added that Atiku was out of the country when the announcement was made, and that upon his return he took appropriate steps, including pausing proceedings and opening dialogue with all relevant parties, which Okonkwo described as characteristic of his democratic approach.