The spokesperson for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential campaign, Kenneth Okonkwo, has said Peter Obi’s withdrawal from the party’s presidential nomination process weakened the South-East’s bargaining power and complicated discussions that culminated in the selection of former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi as the party’s vice-presidential candidate for the 2027 election.
Okonkwo made the remarks during an interview on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Thursday while explaining the considerations behind the party’s ticket.
According to Okonkwo, the South-East initially had a strong stake in the party’s presidential calculations because Obi was part of the process. However, he said the former Anambra State governor’s departure before the exercise was concluded created a leadership gap, leaving the region without a clear representative at a critical stage of negotiations.
“The person that represented the South-East in that calculation left unceremoniously before the conclusion of the process. That left the South-East disadvantaged and confused.”
He explained that after Obi’s exit, the party examined other possible candidates from the South-East for the vice-presidential position. However, he said provisions of the Electoral Act prevented the ADC from selecting individuals who had not fulfilled the required period of party membership before the presidential primary, thereby narrowing the available options.
“Some beautiful names were dropped. You talked about Abaribe, you talked about Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, you talked about some nice names, but those names were no longer members of ADC.”
Okonkwo said those legal constraints influenced the party’s eventual decision to settle for Amaechi as Atiku Abubakar’s running mate. He argued that the former Rivers governor emerged as the closest available option capable of addressing the party’s geopolitical considerations after the South-East lost its frontline presidential aspirant. He added that the choice should not be interpreted as a deliberate exclusion of the region.
The former Labour Party presidential campaign spokesperson also dismissed claims that he had opposed Amaechi’s nomination. He said his earlier position was driven by the belief that the South-East deserved greater representation, having not produced Nigeria’s president or vice president since the country’s return to democratic rule in 1999.
He added that consultations within the party helped resolve concerns raised by members and strengthened internal unity ahead of the 2027 polls.
“We are now one big and happy family. ADC is going to form the next government of Nigeria, and Atiku will be the next president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by the grace of God.”
