Kenneth Okonkwo, an Action Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain, has publicly rejected the selection of Rotimi Amaechi as the running mate for presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar.

The rift threatens to destabilize the ADC's coalition in the South-east, a region where the party maintains a critical support base. If the party cannot reconcile these regional tensions, it risks losing electoral momentum ahead of the general elections.

Okonkwo, a former actor who entered politics, said he has withdrawn his support for Abubakar following the emergence of Amaechi, the former Minister of Transportation, as the vice-presidential pick [1]. He said that the decision to select a candidate from the South-south ignores the political aspirations of the South-east [2].

"Choosing a vice-presidential candidate from the South-south could deepen feelings of marginalisation in the South-east and weaken support for the ADC ticket in the region," Okonkwo said [3].

Okonkwo said that he will not campaign for the Atiku-Amaechi ticket [4]. He said the selection is a continuation of the marginalization of his region [5].

Other party figures have defended the decision. Ndubisi Nwobu said the choice is a strategic move and noted that zoning does not feed Nigerians [6]. This creates a divide within the party between those prioritizing strategic regional balancing, and those focused on ethnic representation.

Abubakar previously secured 1,846,370 votes during the ADC presidential primary [7]. The party now faces the challenge of maintaining that level of support while managing internal dissent over the ticket's geographic composition.

“"I won’t campaign for Atiku-Amaechi ticket."”

The conflict highlights the enduring tension between 'zoning'—the informal Nigerian political practice of rotating power between regions—and strategic candidate selection. By bypassing the South-east for the vice-presidency, the ADC risks alienating a key demographic, potentially driving voters toward rivals who promise better regional representation.