By Suleiman Anyalewechi
Nollywood actor-turned politician, Kenneth Okonkwo, has dissolved his political marriage with former Vice President ,and the 2027 presidential flag bearer of the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar.
Enugu State born, Okonkwo was one of the four spokesperson for the 2023 Labour Party Presidential Campaign Organization formally announced his withdrawal from all activities concerning the political ambition of Abubakar on Monday June 15, 2926, citing the selection of the ADC’s presidential running mate outside the South East region as a major reason for his action.
The Source reports that Okonkwo’s decision to quit is coming amidst serious legal threats against him by Peter Obi, Presidential Candidate of the NDC and a former Governor of Imo State, Chief Achike Udenwa. Both men issued separate datelines for Okonkwo to publicly apologize over perceived defamatory statements made by the actor/politician against them during a live television programme.
Okonkwo had on June 8, 2026, during an interview on Channels Television allegedly impugned the character of Obi, Udenwa, Onyema Ugochukwu ,and other South East chieftains of the NDC.
Specifically, Okonkwo had accused them of extorting NDC aspirants in the South East of millions of Naira during the last primaries’ of the party.
Both Obi and Udenwa had separately demanded a retraction of the said offensive interview, published apologies in some national dailies ,and payment of N5 billion damages as pre-conditions for truce
Not a few political observers and plaudits were of the view that Okonkwo’s consistent scathing attacks on Obi of late was goaded more by his overzealous attempt at pleasing the former Vice President ,his new paymaster.
In a post shared on his official site on Monday , the actor-turned politician said that he did not join the ADC Coalition to promote the marginalization of the South East region in the political equation of the country.
According to him ,it is totally unacceptable for the region after sacrificing the National Chairmanship of the ADC, and the presidential ticket, to be denied the Vice presidential slot
“I heard from the 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 marginalization of the South East.
” I did not join the Coalition to assist in the marginalization of my own people further. I am of the opinion that if we made a sacrifice to give up the National Chairman and the President, it will amount to unpardonable injustice to deny us the Vice president in 2027″ Okonkwo wrote.
This is the second time in less than five years Okonkwo will be jumping ship on account of perceived injustice and marginalization within the political circle.
It will be recalled that Okonkwo had immediately after the announcement of Vice Kashim Shettima as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s running mate in 2023, resigned from the APC in protest against the party’s Muslim-Muslim ticket.
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