Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has named actor-turned-politician and African Democratic Congress, ADC, chieftain, Kenneth Okonkwo, as his spokesman.
The incident came weeks after the politician publicly criticised the party’s choice of a vice-presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.
Okonkwo announced the appointment in a statement on his official X handle on Thursday, in which he thanked Atiku for entrusting him with the role.
“I give all the glory to God to be appointed by His Excellency Atiku Abubakar as his spokesperson. “I thank HE AA for the massive trust placed in me,” he wrote.
The party’s former presidential campaign spokesperson, LP, described the appointment as a reflection of Atiku’s inclusive leadership style. The former vice president, according to the party’s spokesperson, would rather engage in dialogue and consensus building than hostility towards associates with divergent views.
“He always goes for dialogue and compromise that will engender solution to problems instead of taking offence with any of his associates for expressing genuine reservations of any action taken,” Okonkwo stated.
He said that discussions with Atiku and other ADC leaders dwelt on issues around the political interests of the South-East in spite of what he called constraints created by the Electoral Act, 2026.
“At a dialogue with HE AA and other well-meaning members of the African Democratic Congress, the interests of the South-East have been discussed and guaranteed within the existing challenges posed by the Electoral Act, 2026 and realities on ground,” he added.
Okonkwo also thanked Kashim Imam, former ADC National Chairman Ralphs Nwosu and Atiku’s Senior Special Assistant on Special Duties, Ekene Onwuka for their contributions in strengthening the party ahead of the 2027 elections.
I am thankful to my family, fans and friends for their prayers and support, which God answered by covering my errors and colouring my efforts to pave way for this appointment. “Nevertheless I still crave your prayers for wisdom, courage, provision and protection to discharge this challenging post that will usher in a glorious and great Nigeria,” he said.
The appointment follows Okonkwo’s public criticism of the ADC’s choice of its vice-presidential candidate for the 2027 presidential election.
He had warned that reports that the party was considering a candidate from the South-South region for the vice-presidential slot, could further deepen what he described as the continued marginalisation of the South-East in Nigeria’s political structure.
Such a decision would further deny the South-East the opportunity of producing either the president or vice president, a situation he said had been on since 1999.
