The African Democratic Congress (ADC) is facing fresh internal tensions following the choice of former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi as running mate to the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, for the 2027 election.
Kenneth Okonkwo, a member of the party, criticised the decision on Monday, warning that choosing a vice-presidential candidate from the South-south could deepen feelings of marginalisation in the South-east and weaken support for the ADC ticket in the region.
Mr Okonkwo’s reaction came hours after the ADC officially announced Mr Amaechi as Mr Atiku’s running mate, describing the pair as a “unity and rescue ticket” ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The former Nollywood actor-turned-politician said reports of Mr Amaechi’s nomination were unfortunate because the South-east had produced neither a president nor a vice president since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999.
“I heard from social media that ADC has picked its vice-presidential candidate from the South-south. If this is true, it is unfortunate, as this will continue the crude marginalisation of the South-east,” Mr Okonkwo wrote in a post on X.
