Okonkwo Explains Why Atiku’s Running Mate Isn’t From South-East

Kenneth Okonkwo just clarified why Atiku’s running mate ultimately came from outside the South-East region. The African Democratic Congress spokesperson denied that he ever opposed Rotimi Amaechi’s selection as vice-presidential candidate. Instead, he insisted his earlier comments reflected a broader geopolitical position rather than personal opposition to Amaechi.

Okonkwo Denies Opposing Atiku’s Running Mate Choice

Speaking on Channels Television Thursday, Okonkwo directly addressed reports suggesting he resisted Amaechi’s emergence as Atiku Abubakar’s running mate. “I do not know where you got that from,” he said when pressed on the matter. He then reaffirmed his support for the party’s ultimate decision. “First and foremost, he is the choice of the party and everybody that is a loyal party member,” Okonkwo explained.

According to him, his original position simply favored a South-East candidate for the role. However, he acknowledged that Electoral Act provisions significantly narrowed the available pool. “It was a geopolitical expression, not the person of anybody,” he clarified. Party membership rules, he noted, effectively disqualified many South-East figures he would have otherwise preferred.

Electoral Act Rules Limited South-East Options

Okonkwo explained that eligibility rules under the Electoral Act 2026 required candidates to hold party membership at least 21 days before the primary. Consequently, many South-East politicians he considered ideal simply weren’t registered members in time. “So we are restricted,” he said plainly.

Before the primary took place, four names dominated internal party discussions: Atiku Abubakar, Rotimi Amaechi, Hayatu-deen, and Peter Obi. However, once Obi exited the race, the South-East’s position within the party grew increasingly uncertain. “South-East was thrown into confusion,” Okonkwo recalled, and party leaders then needed someone willing to campaign nationally.

Beyond the regional calculus, Okonkwo also pointed to Amaechi’s primary performance as a deciding factor. Amaechi secured more than 500 votes during the contest, according to Okonkwo, and that support base simply couldn’t be ignored. “You cannot alienate them,” he said, referring to Amaechi’s voter coalition within the party.

Party Consultation Process Unfolded After Atiku’s Return

Still, Okonkwo maintained that South-East stakeholders deserved direct engagement before any final announcement. Even with legal constraints limiting options, he argued that party leadership should have explained those restrictions upfront. “You ought to get the people of South-East and sit down with them,” he said, adding that transparency would have let regional leaders manage expectations among their base.

Notably, Atiku wasn’t even in Nigeria when the party first announced Amaechi’s selection. He had traveled abroad, and the announcement went ahead in his absence. Once he returned, though, Okonkwo said Atiku immediately paused further action and opened consultations with all relevant parties. “When he came in, everything was halted,” Okonkwo explained. “He went into dialogue, called all the parties.” Okonkwo framed this responsiveness as a hallmark of Atiku’s democratic instincts.

This clarification arrives alongside other recent remarks from Okonkwo regarding his political trajectory. He separately claimed that Peter Obi betrayed him, while asserting that Atiku recognized his value despite past disagreements. For broader context on the 2027 Nigerian election landscape.

Ultimately, Okonkwo’s comments suggest the vice-presidential selection process involved more legal complexity than public criticism initially implied. Regional politics, primary vote totals, and Electoral Act eligibility rules all reportedly shaped the final outcome together. Whether South-East party members feel fully satisfied with that explanation, however, remains an open question heading into the 2027 campaign season.