Atiku Abubakar, the 2027 presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has appointed Kenneth Okonkwo as his spokesperson. Mr Okonkwo shared the news on his official X handle on Thursday morning.
He posted a screenshot of the appointment letter, but the letter did not have a date. The letter was titled “Offer of appointment as my spokesperson” and was signed by Atiku.
In the letter, the former Vice President of Nigeria informed Mr Okonkwo that his role was to serve as spokesperson for the 2027 general elections after he became the ADC presidential candidate. Atiku also mentioned that the appointment would follow the terms in the letter and other campaign, party, and legal requirements.
“This appointment reflects the confidence I have in your competence, public communication skills, integrity, political judgment, and ability to represent my public positions in a professional and responsible manner,” Atiku stated in the letter.
Ongoing Legal Issues with Peter Obi
This appointment comes during a lawsuit that Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, filed against Mr Okonkwo over alleged defamatory comments.
According to reports, Mr Obi filed a N8 billion lawsuit against Mr Okonkwo on 25 June after he refused to retract comments that Mr Obi believes hurt his reputation. Mr Okonkwo allegedly made these remarks during a Channels TV program on 8 June.
On 30 June, a state high court in Anambra State allowed Mr Obi to serve Mr Okonkwo with the court summons and other documents in another way. During the Channels TV program, Mr Okonkwo claimed that Mr Obi and the South-east caucus of the NDC demanded a N10 million bribe from House of Representatives aspirants to secure their tickets.
Mr Okonkwo specifically mentioned that a House of Representatives aspirant from Anambra State, Obunike Ohaegbu, sent him a message and a receipt saying that Mr Obi scammed him of a N10 million bribe. He stated that Mr Ohaegbu, who aspired for the Nnewi North-South and Ekwusigo Constituency, said they paid the bribe but were only asked to campaign for primaries instead of receiving their tickets.
He further claimed that Mr Ohaegbu said Mr Obi, instead of ensuring fair primaries, stayed at Johnwood Hotel in Abuja and submitted a list of candidates for various constituencies. He argued that anyone who votes for the NDC and Mr Obi is voting for criminality, saying the party has been extorting aspirants.
Meanwhile, Mr Ohaegbu has denied making those statements. On 9 June, while on Channels TV’s Sunrise Daily, he said he never told Mr Okonkwo that Mr Obi asked him to pay N10 million.
“I am telling you that Peter Obi never told me to pay N10 million. I never told Kenneth Okonkwo that Peter Obi, in any way, told me to pay N10 million,” he stated. Mr Ohaegbu added that he never accused the NDC South-east caucus of bribery and did not say that Mr Obi made a list of candidates at Johnwood Hotel.
Criticism of Atiku’s Vice-presidential Choice
Mr Okonkwo’s appointment came just weeks after he criticized Atiku and the ADC for choosing Rotimi Amaechi, the former governor of Rivers State, as the party’s vice-presidential candidate. He argued that a South-easterner should have taken the ADC’s vice-presidential position, saying choosing Mr Amaechi was “crude marginalisation of the South-east.”
He even promised to withdraw his support for Atiku and the ADC if Mr Amaechi remained as his running mate. “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,” he said.
Assurance on South-east Interests
In his X post announcing the appointment, Mr Okonkwo seemed to reference his earlier criticism of Atiku’s choice of running mate. He praised Atiku for not taking offense at the concerns raised by his associates. Instead, Atiku chose “dialogue and compromise to find solutions.”
He claimed he has now met with Atiku and other ADC leaders, assuring that the interests of the South-east have been secured. “At a dialogue with HE AA and other well-meaning members of the African Democratic Congress, the interests of the South-east have been discussed and guaranteed within the existing challenges posed by the Electoral Act, 2026, and the realities on the ground,” he said, but did not provide further details.
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