BREAKING: Kenneth Okonkwo Withdraws Support for Atiku

Former presidential spokesperson of the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council and Nollywood actor-turned-politician, Kenneth Okonkwo, has withdrawn his support for the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, over what he described as the continued marginalisation of the South-East geopolitical zone.

Okonkwo announced his decision following reports that the ADC had selected former Rivers State Governor and former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, as Atiku’s running mate for the 2027 presidential election.

The development was reportedly confirmed by ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi.

Reacting in a statement shared on his official X handle, Okonkwo expressed disappointment over the reported choice, arguing that excluding the South-East from both the presidential and vice-presidential positions would amount to perpetuating injustice against the region.

According to him, the South-East remains the only geopolitical zone that has neither produced a President nor Vice President since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999.

“I heard from social media that ADC has picked its vice-presidential candidate from the South-South. If this is true, it is unfortunate, as this will continue the crude marginalisation of the South-East,” Okonkwo stated.

He maintained that denying the South-East the opportunity to occupy either of the top two executive offices in the proposed ADC coalition arrangement would further deepen feelings of exclusion among the people of the region.

The actor-turned-politician also referenced the sacrifices made by ADC founder, Ralphs Nwosu, who he said relinquished control of the party in 2025 to facilitate a broader political coalition aimed at producing a better Nigeria.

“The ADC was founded by Ralphs Nwosu from the South-East in 2005. He made the sacrifice to give up the party in 2025 for the coalition to usher in a better Nigeria. He couldn’t have made that sacrifice to marginalise his own people,” he said.

Okonkwo stressed that he joined the coalition movement to promote equity, fairness and national unity, insisting that no region or ethnic group should be politically sidelined.

He revealed that his only request to Atiku was to demonstrate his commitment to the South-East by selecting a running mate from the region.

“The only favour I asked Atiku Abubakar, who openly declared that he is the pathway to the presidency of the South-East, is to show it by choosing someone from the South-East to be his vice,” he said.

The former Labour Party chieftain declared that if the reports concerning Amaechi’s nomination are officially confirmed, he would not participate in campaigning for the ADC presidential ticket.

“If it is confirmed that he has chosen a candidate from the South-South, I wish him well. I am not favourably disposed to campaigning for any presidential ticket that does not have a person of South-East origin as President or Vice President in 2027,” Okonkwo added.

His position is expected to spark fresh debate within the opposition coalition over issues of zoning, inclusion and power-sharing ahead of the 2027 general election.

BREAKING: Kenneth Okonkwo Withdraws Support for Atiku

Kwara APC Elders Reject Guber Candidate, Urge Tinubu, Party Leaders to Intervene

A group of influential elders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State has openly challenged the emergence of the party’s governorship candidate for the 2027 election, warning that the decision could jeopardise the ruling party’s chances of retaining power in the state.

The Kwara State APC Elders Caucus on Monday expressed strong reservations over the emergence of the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Engr. Salihu Yakubu Danladi, as the party’s governorship candidate, describing the process that produced him as deeply flawed and politically risky.

Addressing a world press conference in Ilorin, the caucus said the governorship primary election purportedly held by the party on May 22, 2026, failed to reflect the wishes of party members and stakeholders across the state.

The elders claimed that the primary, initially scheduled for May 21, was postponed under unclear circumstances and that Danladi was eventually declared winner of an election they alleged never took place.

According to the caucus, they had initially accepted the outcome of the primary process and reviewed it from the perspective of what would be best for the APC and Kwara State. However, after consultations with party members and stakeholders across the three senatorial districts, they concluded that Danladi was not the strongest candidate available to the party.

“We do not believe that the purported emergence of Hon. Engr. Yakubu Salihu Danladi represents the strongest political option available to the party at this critical moment,” the elders stated.

They stressed that their opposition was not driven by personal grievances against the Speaker but by concerns over his perceived lack of statewide appeal and ability to unite the party ahead of the 2027 governorship election.

The caucus further argued that the political landscape in Kwara had changed significantly and warned against assumptions that the APC could secure victory regardless of the candidate it presented.

The elders also faulted Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, whom they described as the leader of the APC in the state, for allegedly presenting Danladi to the national leadership of the party without adequate consultation with critical stakeholders.

According to them, many party elders, aspirants and political office holders were sidelined in decisions that would ultimately shape the future of the party in the state.

The group urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, APC National Chairman Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda and members of the National Working Committee to re-examine the situation in Kwara State and engage more broadly with stakeholders before final decisions are made.

They also alleged that some influential presidential aides were working to impose what they described as an unpopular candidate on the party in exchange for political patronage and other benefits.

Despite their criticisms, the elders reaffirmed their loyalty to President Tinubu and pledged continued support for his Renewed Hope Agenda and re-election bid in 2027.

The press conference was contained in a statement titled “Text of a World Press Conference by the Kwara State APC Elders Caucus” and was signed by Sir (Dr.) Chief James Bamisaiye Ayenioye, JP, Chairman, on behalf of members of the Kwara State APC Elders Caucus.

BREAKING: Court Orders Deregistration of ADC, Four Other Political Parties

ABUJA – A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the immediate deregistration of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other political parties for allegedly failing to meet constitutional requirements for continued existence.

Delivering judgment on Monday, Justice Peter Lifu ruled that the affected political parties did not satisfy the provisions of Section 225 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), thereby warranting their removal from the register of political parties.

The parties affected by the court order are the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Action People’s Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), and Accord Party (AP).

The ruling is expected to have far-reaching implications for Nigeria’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Of particular significance is the impact on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who is reported to have emerged as the presidential candidate of the ADC for the 2027 election. The development comes amid reports that Atiku had earlier announced former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi as his running mate on the platform of the party.

With the court’s decision, uncertainty now surrounds the political future of the ADC and the validity of any nominations or political activities carried out under its platform pending further legal and electoral clarifications.

Legal analysts say the judgment could trigger a fresh round of litigation, including possible appeals by the affected parties, as stakeholders seek clarity on the status of their political structures and candidates.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is expected to study the judgment and determine the next line of action in compliance with the court’s directives.

As of the time of filing this report, neither the ADC nor the other affected parties had issued official statements reacting to the judgment.

The ruling marks one of the most significant judicial interventions in Nigeria’s political party system in recent years and could reshape preparations for the 2027 elections.

BREAKING: Court Orders Deregistration of ADC, Four Other Political Parties