Former Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, has expressed regret over accepting the role of running mate to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, during the 2023 general elections.
In an interview with Arise TV, Okowa revealed that he went against the wishes of his constituents, who opposed another northerner succeeding former President Muhammadu Buhari. He admitted that, in hindsight, his decision did not reflect the will of his people.
“Even when we were campaigning, I realised our people were not interested in having another northerner come into power. But the decision had already been taken at the federal level by the party (PDP) and I had been nominated. Still, in retrospect, I now believe I should have gone with the will of my people,” Okowa said.
The former governor made the statement shortly after announcing his defection from the PDP to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), a move he claimed was in the best interest of Delta State. According to Okowa, the decision was aimed at positioning the state to benefit more directly from federal opportunities and resources.
Reacting to the defection, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar said he harboured no resentment, describing such political movements as a normal feature of democracy.
“As someone who holds fast to these values, I bear no grudges against anyone for exercising their right to political alignment. Defections, alliances, and realignments are part and parcel of democratic politics. We’ve seen them before, and we’ll see them again,” Atiku said in a statement issued last Friday.
He added that the 2027 general election would not be a contest between political parties, but a decisive moment for Nigerians to reject the economic hardship imposed by the current administration.
“Let us be clear: the coming political battle is not APC versus PDP, or LP versus APC. It is Nigerians versus an administration that has plunged the nation into untold suffering. The economy is in freefall,” he stated.
