Okonkwo Denies Opposing Amaechi's Selection
Kenneth Okonkwo, the spokesman for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, has refuted claims that he opposed the appointment of former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi as Atiku's running mate. During an appearance on Channels Television on Thursday, Okonkwo clarified that his earlier comments were driven by geopolitical considerations rather than any personal objection to Amaechi.
“I do not know where you got that from,” Okonkwo said when asked about reports of his opposition to Amaechi's emergence. He emphasized that his position was rooted in a desire for the vice-presidential candidate to come from the South-East region, but acknowledged that the Electoral Act limited available options.
Electoral Act Constraints and South-East Representation
Okonkwo explained that under the Electoral Act, any prospective candidate must have been a registered party member at least 21 days before a primary. This condition disqualified several South-East figures he would have favored. “It was a geopolitical expression, not the person of anybody,” he stated, adding that the South-East was left without a viable contender after Peter Obi withdrew from the presidential race, throwing the region “into confusion.”
He noted that the four figures who had shown serious interest in the presidential ticket before the primary were Atiku, Amaechi, Hayatu-deen, and Obi. Amaechi's strong performance at the primary, where he secured over 500 votes, made him a stakeholder whose supporters could not be ignored. “Amaechi got up to 500 and something voters in the primary, you cannot alienate them,” Okonkwo said.
Need for Consultation with South-East Stakeholders
Okonkwo stressed that his primary concern was that party leadership should have consulted South-East stakeholders before announcing the final decision. This would have allowed them to understand the constraints and communicate accordingly to their constituents. He reiterated that he had no personal issue with Amaechi, but rather a preference for regional balance.
Atiku's Return and Dialogue
Okonkwo revealed that Atiku was abroad when the party publicly announced the vice-presidential choice. Upon his return, Atiku immediately initiated dialogue with all relevant parties. “When he came in, everything was halted. When he came in, he went into dialogue, called all the parties,” Okonkwo said, describing Atiku as a “great democrat.”
Allegation of Betrayal Against Peter Obi
Okonkwo also accused Peter Obi, the NDC 2027 presidential candidate, of betrayal following Obi's exit from the ADC presidential race. He said this exit compounded the difficulties around South-East representation on the ticket. Okonkwo's comments came amid ongoing legal disputes, as Obi had filed a ₦8 billion defamation suit against him.
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Okonkwo said he had not yet received any court documents relating to the suit. He addressed the issue during the same Channels Television appearance, where he answered questions about the legal dispute.
