2027: Northerner should get ADC presidential ticket, Kenneth Okonkwo insists
Nollywood actor turned politician, Kenneth Okonkwo has again justified his assertion that the opposition African Democratic Congress, ADC should pick its presidential candidate for the 2027 general election from the Northern part of the country.
Okonkwo spoke against agitations by supporters of former Anambra governor, Peter Obi, that the presidential ticket should be yielded to him.
This, they argued will allow Obi to complete the eight year slot of the Southern part of the country if the incumbent Bola Tinubu was not reelected in 2027.
Aside Obi, the other Southerner who had also indicated interest in the ADC presidential ticket is former Rivers governor Rotimi Amaechi.
However, former President Atiku Abubakar, has also indicated interest in contesting for the ticket of ADC. The Adamawa born Atiku was the PDP candidate in the 2023 presidential election during which he was the runner up to the incumbent President.
Atiku had last week resigned his membership of PDP, an action many interpreted as demonstration of his seriousness to run on the platform of ADC which he joined alongside other opposition politicians some week ago.
Okonkwo was a vociferous supporter of Obi when the Anambra State Governor contested as the candidate of Labour Party in the 2023 election.
But he said on Arise Television programme on Monday morning that the ticket of the ADC should be zoned to the Northern part of the country.
Okonkwo who is also a lawyer said it is only candidate outside the Southern part of the country that can defeat Tinubu in the 2027 election.
This, according to him was because only voters from region out of the incumbent’s will be willing to fight and defend their votes if the election was rigged.
“To challenge an incumbent, you must take somebody from the other section. That is what Tinubu did in 2015. If you take a candidate from the same section as the incumbent, nobody will be willing to fight for their votes.
“ADC should look the direction of a northern candidate in 2027, because it will be practically impossible for a southern candidate to defeat a southern incumbent.
“Buhari’s 12 million votes were reduced to 7 million when he faced a northern candidate, Yar’Adua,” Okonkwo who had earlier indicated that he will be supporting Atiku for the ADC presidential said.
He, however, said the party will hold a transparent primary to choose its presidential candidate.
Also speaking on the programme, Okonkwo faulted the alleged threat by Edo governor Monday Okpebholo that Obi should not visit his state without clearance from him.
Okwonkwo described Okpebholo’s alleged threat as unconstitutional, irresponsible, and largely Uninformed.
“Section 41 of the Constitution entitles every citizen of Nigeria to move freely”
“If Edo State Governor Okpebholo doesn’t apologize, I will be on his case. How can Peter Obi pose a security threat to a state? Peter Obi has to up his game because the Benue State governor did almost the same thing and Peter Obi kept quiet. Now Edo State Governor is doing the same by disrespectful threatening his life.”
