Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has appointed actor-turned-politician Kenneth Okonkwo as his spokesperson for the 2027 presidential election campaign.

The appointment was contained in a letter shared by Okonkwo on his official X page on Thursday. According to the letter, the appointment followed Atiku’s emergence as the ADC’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.

In the appointment letter, Atiku said he chose Okonkwo because of his competence, communication skills, integrity, political judgment, and ability to represent his views and campaign professionally. He also expressed confidence that Okonkwo would contribute to the success of the campaign and strengthen democratic engagement in Nigeria.

Reacting to the appointment, Okonkwo thanked Atiku for the confidence reposed in him. He described the appointment as a reflection of Atiku’s leadership style, saying the former vice president prefers dialogue and compromise over conflict when disagreements arise.

The appointment comes just weeks after Okonkwo publicly expressed reservations over the ADC’s choice of a vice-presidential candidate, arguing that the South-East should be considered for the position. Following discussions with Atiku and other leaders of the party, Okonkwo said concerns about the region had been addressed.

Kenneth Okonkwo was one of the spokespersons for Peter Obi’s Labour Party presidential campaign in the 2023 elections before leaving the party in 2025. He later joined the ADC coalition ahead of the 2027 elections.

The appointment is seen as part of Atiku’s efforts to strengthen his media and public communication team as preparations for the 2027 general election continue.