Okonkwo made his position known in a statement shared on his social media platform shortly after reports emerged that former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi had been chosen as Atiku’s running mate under the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Reacting to the development, Okonkwo expressed disappointment, arguing that selecting a vice-presidential candidate from the South-South would further sideline the South-East in Nigeria’s political landscape.
According to him, the South-East has not produced either a President or Vice President since Nigeria returned to democratic governance in 1999, making the region deserving of greater political inclusion.
The Kenneth Okonkwo Atiku support withdrawal comes amid growing conversations about power rotation, equity, and regional representation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Okonkwo also referenced the role played by ADC founder Ralphs Nwosu, whom he noted is from the South-East and made significant sacrifices to support the political coalition seeking to challenge the ruling establishment.
He maintained that his political involvement has always been driven by principles of fairness, justice, and inclusion, stressing that he could not support any arrangement that excludes the South-East from both the presidential and vice-presidential positions.
The former actor further revealed that he had previously urged Atiku Abubakar to demonstrate his commitment to South-East inclusion by selecting a running mate from the region.
According to Okonkwo, such a move would have reinforced Atiku’s stated support for a future South-East presidency and strengthened confidence among voters from the region.
He concluded by stating that he would not campaign for any presidential ticket that fails to include a South-Easterner either as the presidential candidate or vice-presidential candidate.
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