Former Vice President and presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has officially appointed prominent Nollywood actor turned politician, Kenneth Okonkwo, as the spokesperson for his upcoming 2027 presidential campaign.
​The high-profile appointment aims to strengthen Atiku’s media strategy as political parties begin uploading their candidate profiles to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) nomination portal.
​Okonkwo, a seasoned lawyer and former spokesperson for the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential campaign, brings sharp communication skills to Atiku’s camp. He has recently emerged as a fierce defender of the former Vice President, publicly dismantling long-standing political criticisms leveled against Atiku.
​However, the appointment comes at a highly volatile moment for the campaign. The African Democratic Congress (ADC) recently uploaded the joint ticket of Atiku Abubakar and former Transport Minister Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi to the INEC portal. Okonkwo has previously expressed strong reservations regarding the structure of the ticket, warning against the potential political marginalization of the South-East region.
​”Our focus remains on delivering a credible alternative anchored on national unity, competence, and a total renewal of Nigeria’s governance framework,” a statement from the campaign team noted, emphasizing that internal debates reflect the party’s democratic vibrancy rather than a fracture.
​The newly formed campaign team faces immediate hurdles. Alongside navigating the choice of running mate, a rival faction within the ADC, led by Nafiu Bala Gombe, has publicly distanced itself from Atiku’s candidacy, claiming the party’s authentic flagbearer is Prof. Chris Uba.
​With Okonkwo now formally at the helm of Atiku’s media machinery, his immediate task will be to unify the opposition’s public messaging, counter factional disputes, and present a formidable front against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as the 2027 race intensifies.
