By Daniel Abia, Port Harcourt
A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has criticised actor-turned-politician, Kenneth Okonkwo, over his opposition to the reported choice of former Rivers State Governor and ex-Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, as running mate to ADC presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, ahead of the 2027 elections.
Eze said he was not surprised by Okonkwo’s position, describing it as “unfortunate,” following the ADC National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi’s confirmation that Atiku had picked Amaechi as his vice-presidential candidate.
Okonkwo had reportedly withdrawn his support for Atiku, arguing that any political arrangement excluding the South-East from the top two executive positions in 2027 amounts to injustice against the Igbo.
Reacting, Eze, a former National Publicity Secretary of the defunct New Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP), accused Okonkwo of inconsistency in his political stance.
He alleged that the former actor “speaks from both sides of his mouth” and suggested his criticism was influenced by recent disagreements within political circles.
“The fact remains that it is not the choice of Amaechi as Atiku’s Vice President that made Barr. Okonkwo to launch an attack on Atiku. He is an emerging betrayer,” Eze said.
He also linked Okonkwo’s reaction to his alleged fallout with former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, claiming the lawyer-actor had become “politically inconsistent.”
Eze further argued that Amaechi, though from the South-South, has close cultural and marital ties to the South-East, noting that he is married to an Igbo woman.
“According to Igbo customs, having married an Igbo woman, Amaechi is automatically a son of the South-East,” he said.
He added that Atiku’s past running mates had included politicians of Igbo origin, citing Senator Ben Obi, Peter Obi, and Senator Ifeanyi Okowa as examples.
According to him, the choice of Amaechi represents a strong political strategy capable of strengthening the ADC’s chances in the 2027 presidential election.
Eze maintained that Amaechi remains one of the most experienced politicians from the South-South and South-East geopolitical zones, insisting that his selection was “the best option for Nigeria.”
The post ADC chieftain faults Kenneth Okonkwo over criticism of Amaechi as Atiku’s running mate appeared first on Vanguard News.
