Inclusive and Open: ADA Presidential Ticket Available to All Nigerians– Kenneth Okonkwo
Kenneth Okonkwo
Veteran Nollywood actor turned politician, Kenneth Okonkwo, has stated that the presidential ticket of the proposed political party, the All Democratic Alliance (ADA), will be open to aspirants from all geopolitical zones of Nigeria if the party is officially registered.
The ADA is a political coalition in the making, reportedly formed by prominent opposition figures seeking an alternative platform to challenge the dominance of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Those said to be involved in this coalition include former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; former Governors Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna) and Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers); the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi; and former Senate President David Mark.
Speaking on Sunday Politics, a current affairs programme on Channels Television, Okonkwo,who formerly served as spokesperson for Peter Obi during the 2023 presidential campaign emphasised that the ADA’s presidential ticket will not be restricted to any region, ethnicity, or political bloc.
“I have said it clearly: nobody is going to be stopped from contesting for the presidential ticket in the coalition,nobody,” he said .
He stressed that internal democracy will be a foundational principle of the ADA, and that all qualified Nigerians will be allowed to contest fairly for the presidential nomination ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Addressing concerns over zoning and rotational presidency, Okonkwo cautioned against depending on informal arrangements or gentleman’s agreements among politicians, arguing that such agreements are often unreliable.
“Politicians have shown that it’s very difficult to trust them, even when someone promises to serve only one term,” “If someone from the South is elected and midway through their term they are underperforming—like what we are seeing with Tinubu—it creates a problem.”he said.
He further elaborated that electing another Southerner could complicate the political balance, as such a person would likely seek a full two terms.
“If you get another Southerner, he is going to stay for eight years. The North will reject that and call it injustice. Nobody will allow Tinubu to continue because he is not performing. So the best option is to throw the race open. When the best candidate emerges, everyone can rally behind them, and that person can commit to a single four-year term,” Okonkwo added.
