Kenneth Okonkwo, a prominent chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has explained the reasoning behind the party’s decision regarding the choice of vice presidential candidate for the 2027 elections.

Speaking during an interview on Channels Television, he addressed concerns about why no candidate from Nigeria’s South-East region was selected as the running mate to Atiku Abubakar, the party’s presidential candidate.According to him, while there was initially a preference for a South-East candidate, the reality on ground made it difficult to achieve.

Okonkwo stated that most of the individuals who could have been considered from the South-East were not registered members of the ADC at least 21 days before the party primaries, as required by the Electoral Act 2026.This legal restriction, he said, significantly limited the party’s options.

He also noted that the political situation in the South-East became unstable following the exit of former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, from the ADC, which created confusion within the region’s political structure.

He further clarified that Rotimi Amaechi, who emerged as the vice presidential candidate, was not imposed arbitrarily but was part of the group of aspirants who actively participated in the party’s presidential process.

Okonkwo emphasised that Amaechi secured a notable number of votes in the primary election, and ignoring such support would have been politically unfair.

He also mentioned that Atiku Abubakar engaged in consultations and dialogue after returning from travel, ensuring internal party harmony before final decisions were made.

Overall, Okonkwo maintained that the selection process was guided by legal constraints, internal party dynamics, and political realities rather than regional exclusion or bias.