Veteran Nollywood Actor, Kenneth Okonkwo has resigned his membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the party’s decision to field a Muslim-Muslim ticket for the 2023 Presidential election.
The APC presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu recently announced former Borno State governor, Kashim Shettima, as his running mate despite objections from both party and non-party members over the same-faith ticket.
Okonkwo said he could no longer lend his name to “these abnormalities” in the interest of the nation’s peaceful coexistence, integration and progess.
Part of the letter read: “Recall that I joined APC because of its constitutional vow, as true progressives and patriots, to eliminate all forms of discrimination and social injustice in Nigeria, thereby building the nation a nation which will guarantee equal opportunity for all and ensure mutual and peaceful co-existence among Nigerians.
“Those ideals are now alien to the APC, with their unfortunate decision to paint our Muslim brothers in had light, by insinuating that the Muslims in Nigeria will not accept or vote for a Northern Christian as Vice-President to pair with a Southern Muslim.
“If Muslims could vote voluntarily for Southern Christian Presidents, it is then a fallacy to insinuate that they cannot accept a Northern Christian Vice-President. This will permanently destroy the political viability of Northern Christians in Nigeria, if allowed to stand.
“Being the convener of the Campaign for Equity and Justice in Nigeria, and as a former member of APC Presidential Campaign Council, which resisted same religion presidential ticket in the past, I can no longer continue to lend my name to these abnormalities in the interest of our peaceful co-existence, integration and progress of our beloved country.”
