A senior figure in the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has launched a scathing attack on actor-turned-politician Kenneth Okonkwo following his criticism of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s choice of Rotimi Amaechi as running mate for the 2027 presidential election.
The disagreement comes after reports that Atiku, the ADC’s presidential candidate, selected former Rivers State Governor and ex-Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, as his vice-presidential candidate for the 2027 race.
Kenneth Okonkwo had publicly distanced himself from Atiku’s campaign, arguing that the exclusion of the South-East from the party’s presidential and vice-presidential slots amounted to continued political marginalisation of the Igbo people.
Reacting in a statement on Tuesday, Eze dismissed Okonkwo’s position, describing it as misguided and politically inconsistent. The former National Publicity Secretary of the defunct New Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP) said he was not surprised by the actor’s comments.
According to Eze, Okonkwo’s opposition to the Atiku-Amaechi ticket was driven by personal and political circumstances rather than genuine concerns about equity and inclusion.
“The fact remains that it is not the choice of Amaechi as Atiku’s vice president that made Barrister Okonkwo launch an attack on Atiku,” Eze stated, accusing the former Labour Party spokesman of political inconsistency.
The ADC chieftain also alleged that Okonkwo is facing pressure over his recent criticism of Labour Party leader Peter Obi and a reported N5 billion defamation lawsuit allegedly linked to the fallout.
Defending Amaechi’s selection, Eze argued that the former Rivers governor has strong ties to the South-East and should not be viewed as disconnected from Igbo interests. He noted that Amaechi is married to Dame Judith Amaechi, who hails from the South-East, and said cultural traditions recognise him as part of the region.
“Amaechi is Igbo, and his choice by Atiku as a running mate is the best option for the ADC and Nigeria,” Eze said.
He further maintained that Atiku has consistently demonstrated goodwill toward the South-East through his previous running mate selections. Eze pointed to former vice-presidential candidates Ben Obi, Peter Obi, and Ifeanyi Okowa as examples of Atiku’s history of partnering with politicians from the region.
According to him, claims that Atiku has sidelined the South-East do not align with political realities and ignore his long-standing relationship with leaders from the zone.
Eze also described Amaechi as one of the most experienced politicians from Southern Nigeria, arguing that his administrative and electoral credentials make him a strategic choice for the opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 general election.
He expressed confidence that the Atiku-Amaechi partnership would strengthen the ADC’s chances of challenging President Bola Tinubu and the ruling APC in the next presidential contest.
The comments come amid growing debate within opposition circles over zoning, regional representation and the composition of potential presidential tickets ahead of the 2027 elections.
