Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has appointed African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain and actor-turned-politician Kenneth Okonkwo as his spokesperson, weeks after the lawyer publicly criticised the party’s choice of vice-presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.
Okonkwo announced his appointment in a statement posted on his official X account on Thursday, expressing gratitude to Atiku for entrusting him with the role.
“I give God all the glory to be appointed by His Excellency Atiku Abubakar as his Spokesperson. I thank HE AA for the immense confidence reposed in me,” he said.
Reflecting on his earlier criticism of the party’s vice-presidential nomination, Okonkwo described his appointment as a demonstration of Atiku’s inclusive leadership style, noting that the former vice president preferred dialogue over confrontation.
“Rather than pick offence against any of his associates for expressing genuine reservations over any action taken, HE AA always opts for dialogue and compromise that will engender solutions to problems,” he stated.
According to Okonkwo, discussions with Atiku and other leaders of the ADC also addressed concerns relating to the interests of the South-East, despite what he described as constraints imposed by the Electoral Act 2026.
He suggested that the consultations reflected the party’s commitment to internal dialogue and efforts to accommodate differing views ahead of the 2027 general elections.
