ADC Chieftain Slams Okonkwo’s critics on the choice of Amaechi

A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, criticised actor-turned-politician Kenneth Okonkwo this week over his public opposition to the reported choice of former Rivers State Governor Chibuike Amaechi as running mate to ADC presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar ahead of the 2027 election.

Eze, speaking from Port Harcourt, said Okonkwo’s objections reflected a misunderstanding of the coalition-building dynamics required to mount a credible challenge against President Tinubu. He argued that Amaechi’s political experience and his standing in the South-South region would strengthen rather than weaken the ADC’s electoral prospects in 2027.

Running Mate Speculation Stirs Debate

Okonkwo, a prominent Labour Party-aligned figure in earlier election cycles, had reportedly criticised the Amaechi speculation, raising concerns about Amaechi’s past political alignments and his suitability as a running mate for an opposition coalition explicitly built to challenge the ruling APC. The disagreement reflects broader tensions among opposition figures over how the ADC’s 2027 ticket should be constructed.

The running mate speculation comes as Atiku’s campaign continues to navigate the fallout from the Federal High Court’s attempted deregistration of the ADC, an episode the Court of Appeal halted this week while rebuking the trial judge for judicial rascality. Atiku’s campaign has not formally confirmed Amaechi’s selection, with reports describing the choice as still under consideration.

Coalition Building Remains Fluid

Furthermore, the disagreement illustrates the delicate balancing act facing opposition coalition builders, who must reconcile competing regional, ideological, and personal considerations while presenting a unified front. Notably, similar tensions have surfaced within the NDC over Peter Obi’s positioning and within the PRP over Donald Duke’s candidacy. Consequently, opposition coalition politics remain highly fluid more than a year before the 2027 election.