The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the 2027 general election, Atiku Abubakar, has appointed party chieftain and former spokesperson of the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council, Kenneth Okonkwo, as his official spokesperson.
Okonkwo announced the appointment on Thursday in a post on his verified X account, where he shared a copy of the appointment letter signed by Atiku.
The letter, titled “Offer of Appointment as My Spokesperson,” formally appoints the lawyer and actor as spokesperson for Atiku’s 2027 presidential campaign.
In the letter, Atiku said the appointment followed his emergence as the ADC’s presidential candidate and would be subject to the conditions contained in the letter, as well as all applicable campaign, party, legal, regulatory and ethical requirements.
The former vice-president expressed confidence in Okonkwo’s ability to communicate his vision and represent his public positions.
“This appointment reflects the confidence I repose in your competence, public communication skills, integrity, political judgment, and ability to represent my public positions in a professional and responsible manner,” he stated.
He added: “While congratulating you on this appointment, I look forward to your valuable contribution to the campaign and to the advancement of democratic engagement in Nigeria.”
Reacting to the appointment, Okonkwo expressed gratitude to Atiku for the confidence reposed in him, describing the decision as evidence of the ADC candidate’s democratic disposition.
“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.
The former Labour Party chieftain said Atiku chose dialogue over confrontation despite reservations he had earlier expressed about some decisions taken by the campaign.
“This appointment speaks volume of the democratic credentials of HE AA. Rather than pick offence against any of his associates for expressing genuine reservations of any action taken, HE AA always opts for dialogue and compromise that will engender solutions to problems,” Okonkwo said.
Okonkwo disclosed that following discussions with Atiku and other leaders of the ADC, the interests of the South-East had been accommodated.
“At a dialogue with HE AA and other well meaning members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), 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.
He also acknowledged the roles played by several individuals, including Dr Kashim Imam, former ADC National Chairman Ralph Nwosu and Atiku’s Senior Special Assistant on Special Duties, Dr Ekene Onwuka, in facilitating the appointment and strengthening the coalition.
The appointment comes weeks after Okonkwo openly criticised Atiku’s choice of former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi as the ADC vice-presidential candidate.
He had argued that the South-East should have produced the party’s vice-presidential candidate, describing Amaechi’s nomination as “crude marginalisation of the South-East.”
Okonkwo also threatened to withdraw his support for Atiku’s campaign if the decision was not reconsidered.
“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 had said.
His latest statement, however, suggests that consultations with the party’s leadership have resolved his concerns.
Okonkwo’s appointment comes while he is facing a ₦8 billion defamation suit instituted by the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi.
Obi filed the suit after Okonkwo allegedly refused to retract comments made during a Channels Television programme on June 8, in which he accused Obi and the NDC South-East caucus of demanding a N10 million bribe from House of Representatives aspirants seeking the party’s tickets.
Okonkwo claimed that an aspirant for the Nnewi North-South/Ekwusigo Federal Constituency, Obunike Ohaegbu, provided him with evidence alleging that Obi collected the money and later directed aspirants to participate in party primaries instead of issuing automatic tickets.
He further alleged that Obi personally compiled the party’s list of candidates at a hotel in Abuja and accused the NDC of criminally extorting aspirants. However, Ohaegbu denied making the allegations.
Appearing on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on June 9, he said: “I am telling you that Peter Obi never told me to pay ₦10 million. I never told Kenneth Okonkwo that Peter Obi, in any way, told me to pay ₦10 million.”
He also denied accusing the NDC South-East caucus of demanding bribes or alleging that Obi compiled candidates’ names at Johnwood Hotel.
On June 30, an Anambra State High Court granted Obi leave to serve court processes on Okonkwo through substituted means as the defamation suit continues.
