Politics
I Won’t Campaign For You – Kenneth Okonkwo Slams Atiku
Former Labour Party presidential campaign spokesman, Kenneth Okonkwo, has criticised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over reports that the African Democratic Congress, ADC, presidential ticket may pick its vice-presidential candidate from the South-South region.
In a post on X on Monday, Okonkwo described the reported decision as “unfortunate” and warned that it would amount to the continued marginalisation of the South-East, which he noted has neither produced a president nor vice president since 1999.
He argued that denying the South-East the opportunity to produce either the presidential or vice-presidential candidate of the ADC in the 2027 election would amount to an “unpardonable injustice.”
Okonkwo also referenced the role of former ADC National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, saying the party founder made significant sacrifices by relinquishing control of the party to facilitate the coalition aimed at producing a better Nigeria.
“I heard from social media that the 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.
“I did not join the coalition to assist in the further marginalisation of my own people. I am of the opinion that if we made a sacrifice to give up the National Chairman and the President, it would amount to unpardonable injustice to deny us the Vice President in 2027,” Okonkwo wrote.
The actor-turned-politician stated that the only request he made to Atiku, whom he said had previously presented himself as a pathway to a South-East presidency, was to demonstrate that commitment by selecting a running mate from the region.
Okonkwo said that if reports of a South-South vice-presidential nominee are confirmed, he would not be willing to campaign for the presidential ticket in 2027.
He maintained that he entered politics to fight for a Nigeria where no region or group is marginalised and insisted that the South-East deserves representation on the presidential ticket.
The African Action Congress, AAC, presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has condemned the Federal High Court ruling that directed the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to deregister the African Democratic Congress, ADC, and four other political parties.
Sowore said this on Monday in a statement posted on his verified X handle.
According to him, the judgment was undemocratic and inconsistent with the principles of a multi-party system.
He equally stated that it was unacceptable for parties to be deregistered when they had already concluded their primaries and were preparing for future elections.
“It shall not stand. I totally condemn the deregistration of political parties that have already concluded their primaries and are preparing for general elections. Such an action is undemocratic and unjustifiable in a multi-party democracy,” he wrote.
DAILY POST recalls that Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja, on Monday ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to immediately deregister the ADC, Accord Party and others from participating in the 2027 general elections.
Anambra Central Senator, Victor Umeh, has said the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, presidential candidate, Peter Obi, does not influence anything in the party.
Umeh made this clarification on Monday while fielding questions in an interview on Arise Television’s ‘Morning Show’.
He was reacting to the speculation and allegation that he was involved in influencing positions in the NDC.
Recalls that the NDC had recently faced criticisms over its just-concluded primary election held across the country.
“Peter Obi has not been involved in influencing who becomes what in the NDC. He’s somebody whom you can hardly see drag into a process like this.
“In my local government, where he hails from, the people there are aware of everything, so he doesn’t need to tell them who to support. He doesn’t need to do that.
“And in the NDC, the party has a leadership, and the leader of that party is Senator Seriake Dickson. It’s because he’s the chairman or the leader of that party that made us join the party, because I work with him in the Senate, and I know his character. I know he stands on national issues,” he said.
Just because Obi and Rabi’u Kwankwaso entered the NDC, the party witnessed a surge of people who wanted to contest for one thing or another.
“Those claiming they were extorted are trying to cheat and had their fingers burnt.
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