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Former House of Representatives candidate of the Peoples Democratic Congress for Dekina/Bassa Federal Constituency, Austin Okai, has accused Kenneth Okonkwo of allegedly harbouring ambitions for the vice presidential ticket of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) while not publicly declaring such interest.
Okai made the claim in a post shared on his Facebook page on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, where he suggested that Okonkwo had shown interest in becoming a running mate in the party’s emerging political arrangements but had not been open about it.
He was quoted as saying, “Kenneth Okonkwo was eyeing Atiku running mate and he wasn’t bold enough to disclose it.”
The comment comes amid rising political tension within the ADC following the party’s announcement of former Rivers State Governor and ex-Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, as the running mate to presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar for the 2027 general elections. The development reportedly followed internal party deliberations in which Amaechi emerged as the selected choice after finishing as runner-up in the party’s primaries.
The announcement has sparked divisions within the party, with several prominent members expressing dissatisfaction over the selection process and the outcome.
Kenneth Okonkwo has been among the most vocal critics of the decision, publicly rejecting the Atiku-Amaechi ticket. He argued that the choice of a running mate from the South-South region further deepens concerns about the continued exclusion of the South-East from Nigeria’s top political leadership positions.
According to him, the arrangement reflects a pattern of marginalisation against the Igbo-speaking South-East geopolitical zone, which he believes has not been adequately represented in the highest levels of executive leadership.
He stated that he could not support a political arrangement that, in his view, sidelines his region, adding that such decisions were inconsistent with the inclusive goals he associated with his involvement in the coalition.
Okonkwo further explained that his participation in the political coalition was driven by a desire for fair representation, insisting that he could not mobilise support for a ticket he believes undermines his geopolitical zone.
The controversy has added to ongoing internal disagreements within the ADC as the party continues preparations for the 2027 general elections, with debates over zoning, representation, and candidate selection shaping its internal dynamics.
