Obi’s Exit from ADC Left Southeast Disadvantaged, Confused – Kenneth Okonkwo

A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Kenneth Okonkwo, has said the departure of Peter Obi from the party left the South-East politically disadvantaged and created uncertainty during the process that culminated in the emergence of former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, as the party’s vice-presidential candidate.

Speaking on Thursday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Morning Brief, Okonkwo addressed questions over Amaechi’s failure to publicly acknowledge his nomination on social media and his own earlier reservations about the party’s choice of running mate for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

He explained that the South-East had initially been represented in the party’s presidential calculations, but the withdrawal of that individual before the conclusion of the selection process disrupted the region’s chances of producing the vice-presidential candidate.

According to him, Peter Obi’s exit created a vacuum that proved difficult to fill because of provisions in the Electoral Act, which require a running mate to have been a member of a political party for at least 21 days before its primary election.

“The person that represented the South-East in that calculation left before the conclusion of the process, leaving the region disadvantaged and confused. Once Peter Obi exited, it was as though the position expected to go to the South-East became vacant,” Okonkwo said.

He noted that several respected figures, including Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe and former Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, were considered during discussions but were ineligible because they were no longer members of the ADC.

“Those were excellent names, but they were not members of the party, and the law did not permit their consideration. That was why Atiku eventually settled for the person considered closest to the South-East,” he added.

Responding to claims that he had opposed Amaechi’s nomination, Okonkwo clarified that he never criticised the former Rivers governor personally or mentioned him by name. He pointed out that Amaechi is of Igbo heritage and stressed that his concern had always centred on ensuring geopolitical balance within the party’s ticket.

He argued that the South-East has neither produced a President nor Vice President since Nigeria returned to democratic rule in 1999, making the region’s aspirations a legitimate concern.

Okonkwo said he accepted the party’s explanation for the choice of running mate and disclosed that consultations were continuing to strengthen unity within the ADC.

“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,” he said.