Prominent actor-turned-politician, Kenneth Okonkwo has reacted to the decision by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to not select its 2027 vice-presidential candidate from the South-East region, stating that such a move will further marginalize the region.

Okonkwo in a statement via his social media handle argued that the region remains the only one in Nigeria that haven't produced a President nor a Vice President since 1999, insisting that denying the region the vice-presidential slot would amount to perpetuating injustice against its people.

His reaction comes after the party announced former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi as the vice-presidential candidate for the 2027 presidential election, pairing him with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

The party disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, following consultations with party stakeholders, coalition partners and representatives from across the country.

“The ADC was founded by Ralph Nwosu from the South-East in 2005. He made the sacrifice to give up the party in 2025 for the coalition to usher in a better Nigeria. He couldn’t have made that sacrifice to marginalise his own people,” Okonkwo said.

He maintained that after relinquishing both the party’s national chairmanship and presidential ticket, it would be an injustice to deny the South-East the vice-presidential slot.

Okonkwo also disclosed that the only request he made to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, whom he said had publicly promised to support the emergence of a South-East president in the future, was to demonstrate that commitment by choosing a running mate from the region.

“I joined politics to fight for a better Nigeria where no region, geo-political zone, or person will be marginalised,” he stated.

The former Labour Party chieftain added that if reports of a South-South vice-presidential nominee are eventually confirmed, he would not be inclined to campaign for a presidential ticket that does not feature a candidate of South-East origin either as president or vice president.

“I wish him well. I am not favourably disposed to campaigning for any presidential ticket that does not have a person of South-East origin as President or Vice President in 2027,” he said.