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African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain Kenneth Okonkwo has defended Atiku Abubakar’s choice of Rotimi Amaechi as his running mate, saying the decision was meant to reassure the Southeast that it was not being sidelined ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Okonkwo spoke on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Thursday while responding to questions over Amaechi’s emergence as the party’s vice-presidential candidate and concerns from some members who believed the slot should have gone to the Southeast.
He said the ADC had adopted internal consultations and dialogue to address concerns arising from the selection process before rallying members behind the ticket.
“The ADC has announced Rotimi Amaechi as the vice presidential candidate of ADC, and in our own nature, the way we do things, whenever such issue arises… we always go internally to negotiate, to dialogue democratically, so that we can reach compromise and come back together as one to move on,” he said.
According to Okonkwo, the ongoing consultations are aimed at resolving grievances and strengthening party unity ahead of the 2027 general election.
Clarifying his earlier position on the vice-presidential nomination, the former presidential spokesperson said he never opposed Amaechi’s candidacy but had argued that the Southeast deserved consideration because it had yet to produce either a president or vice president since Nigeria returned to democratic rule in 1999.
“I said I would have favourably been disposed by the choice to have come from Southeast, not South-South, because Southeast has not produced the president or vice from 1999,” he said.
Okonkwo explained that the withdrawal of former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi from the ADC presidential contest significantly weakened the Southeast’s chances of producing the party’s vice-presidential nominee, leaving Atiku with limited options under the Electoral Act.
He said Atiku ultimately chose Amaechi because of his political and regional affinity with the Southeast, demonstrating that he harboured no bias against the Igbo.
“That was why the excellency Atiku Abubakar still went to the nearest person that is closest to the southeast. In other words, for you to know that he has nothing against the Igbo people.”
Okonkwo added that after party leaders explained the rationale behind the decision and assured members that the interests of the Southeast would be adequately protected, he threw his weight behind the ticket.
“When everything was now stated very well, and the interest of Ndigbo and Southeast was now recognized and guaranteed, then it was a go-go for me, and we are now one big and happy family,” he said.
The ADC has intensified efforts to unite its ranks following the conclusion of its presidential nomination process as it positions itself for the 2027 general election, with party leaders insisting that internal consultations remain central to resolving disagreements and presenting a united front.
