According to a report by Daily Post on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has criticised the actor-turned-politician Kenneth Okonkwo over his comments against the choice of former Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, as the running mate to the party’s 2027 presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
The development follows internal discussions within the ADC and its allied political arrangements ahead of the 2027 general elections, where Atiku Abubakar is said to have settled on Amaechi as his vice-presidential candidate.
The reported decision was later confirmed in a statement attributed to the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, which triggered widespread political debate.
Kenneth Okonkwo, reacting to the announcement, expressed strong dissatisfaction with the arrangement, insisting that any presidential ticket that does not include a representative from the South-East region in one of the top two positions would amount to continued political marginalisation.
He described such exclusion as a continuation of what he considers an unfair treatment of the Igbo people within Nigeria’s political structure.
In a counter-response issued on Tuesday, Eze dismissed Okonkwo’s position, arguing that the remarks attributed to him were not only misplaced but also lacked political maturity.
He maintained that the actor-turned-politician had reacted in a manner that suggested a misunderstanding of the dynamics involved in party negotiations and elite political decision-making ahead of 2027.
Eze further argued that Okonkwo’s public statements reflected inconsistency in his political alignment and judgement, adding that his approach to political discourse often appeared emotional rather than strategic.
He also suggested that Okonkwo’s criticism of party decisions indicated a lack of appreciation for internal consultations and broader coalition-building efforts within the ADC and its allied forces.
The ADC chieftain also linked Okonkwo’s recent political posture to his earlier public disagreements with Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, stating that his actions had placed him in a difficult position politically and legally.
According to Eze, the ongoing controversies surrounding Okonkwo’s comments about Obi had exposed him to reputational and legal challenges, including a defamation suit.
“The heat is on Okonkwo because of his disparaging attack on the person and personality of Peter Obi, whom he once idolised as the best political leader in Nigeria. He is afraid of the N5 billion defamation suit slammed on him by Obi,” the ADC stalwart said.
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