The debate over the reported emergence of Chibuike Amaechi as Atiku Abubakar’s vice-presidential candidate for the 2027 election has sparked fresh divisions within opposition circles, with a senior African Democratic Congress (ADC) figure accusing actor-turned-politician Kenneth Okonkwo of inconsistency and political betrayal over his criticism of the arrangement.
Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, a prominent ADC chieftain and former National Publicity Secretary of the defunct New Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP), reacted to comments credited to Kenneth Okonkwo following reports that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar had selected former Rivers State Governor Chibuike Amaechi as his running mate ahead of the next presidential election.
Okonkwo had reportedly opposed the move, arguing that excluding the South-East from both the presidential and vice-presidential positions would amount to political injustice against the Igbo people.
Responding to the criticism, Eze described Okonkwo’s stance as unfortunate, insisting that the controversy surrounding the Amaechi running mate arrangement was being driven by personal and political grievances rather than genuine concerns about fairness.
According to him, the former actor’s reaction had little to do with the choice of Amaechi and more to do with recent disagreements within opposition political circles. Eze alleged that Okonkwo had developed a pattern of taking contradictory positions on key political issues and accused him of speaking inconsistently on matters affecting opposition politics.
“The fact remains that it is not the choice of Amaechi as Atiku’s Vice President that made Barrister Okonkwo launch an attack on Atiku,” Eze stated.
The ADC chieftain argued that the reported Amaechi running mate decision should be viewed from a broader political perspective, describing the former transportation minister as one of the most experienced political figures from the South-South region. Eze also pointed to Amaechi’s family ties with the South-East, noting that the former governor is married to an Igbo woman.
According to him, traditional Igbo customs recognise such relationships as strong cultural connections, making Amaechi a figure with close links to the region. He further reminded critics that Atiku had previously selected politicians of South-East extraction as running mates, including notable figures such as Ben Obi, Peter Obi and Ifeanyi Okowa at different stages of his political career.
Eze maintained that the reported Amaechi running mate choice represents a strategic political decision aimed at strengthening the ADC’s chances in the 2027 presidential election.
He expressed confidence that the combination of Atiku and Amaechi would provide the opposition party with a competitive platform capable of challenging the ruling party at the polls. According to him, Amaechi’s political experience, national reach and governance record make him a valuable asset in any presidential ticket.
As discussions over opposition alliances and candidate selection continue ahead of 2027, the disagreement between Eze and Okonkwo highlights growing debates over representation, regional balance and political strategy. While critics argue that the South-East deserves greater inclusion in top executive positions, supporters of the reported Atiku-Amaechi ticket insist that competence and electoral strength should remain central considerations in determining the opposition’s path forward.
