Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has appointed Kenneth Okonkwo as spokesperson for his 2027 presidential campaign following his emergence as the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

According to TheCable, a copy of the appointment letter shared by Okonkwo on his X page on Thursday confirmed the development.

In the letter, Atiku said the appointment was based on his confidence in Okonkwo’s competence, communication skills, integrity, political judgment and ability to professionally represent his public positions during the campaign.

He added that he looked forward to Okonkwo’s contribution to the campaign and broader democratic engagement in Nigeria ahead of the 2027 general election.

Reacting to the appointment, Okonkwo expressed gratitude to Atiku, describing the move as a reflection of the former vice-president’s democratic values.

He said Atiku consistently chooses dialogue and compromise when addressing disagreements among associates, noting that this approach promotes solutions to political challenges.

Okonkwo also revealed that discussions with Atiku and other ADC stakeholders had addressed concerns around the interests of the South-East within the framework of the Electoral Act 2026 and prevailing political realities.

He thanked Ralph Nwosu and Ekene Onwuka for their contributions to the coalition and his appointment.

The actor-turned-politician further asked supporters to pray for wisdom, courage and strength as he takes on what he described as a challenging responsibility.

The 2027 presidential election will mark Atiku’s seventh attempt at Nigeria’s highest office and his fourth appearance on the ballot as a presidential candidate of a political party.

Okonkwo previously served as spokesperson for Peter Obi during the 2023 presidential election under the Labour Party.

However, both men later fell out, with Obi recently filing a defamation suit against Okonkwo over alleged defamatory remarks.