Wednesday, April 30, 2025 - Former Delta State governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, has claimed that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is set to leave the party.
Okowa made this assertion during an interview on ARISE TV on
Tuesday, April 29,where he also confirmed his own defection to the ruling All
Progressives Congress (APC) alongside Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori
and several other key PDP figures in the state.
“I discussed the coalition with Atiku, who is on his way out
of the PDP, before we moved to the APC,” Okowa revealed, indicating that Atiku
is re-evaluating his political future amid ongoing internal challenges within
the PDP.
Speaking on the grand opposition coalition proposed by Atiku
to unite parties against the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections, Okowa
distanced himself from the initiative. “It does not seem that a viable vehicle
has been confirmed for that coalition, nor does it appear that a coalition
could build strength in such a short period,” he said.
Instead, Okowa voiced support for President Bola Ahmed
Tinubu, endorsing a full eight-year tenure for the incumbent and arguing that
this would benefit the country and preserve the principle of rotational
presidency. “For the stability of this nation, it is best for us to have him
complete his eight-year tenure. Then the presidency can move back to the North.
I believe that is the right thing,” he stated.
Okowa attributed his departure from the PDP to the party’s
worsening internal crisis, which he said had eroded its ability to compete in
upcoming elections. “We had various levels of meetings with several
stakeholders, and even consulted some of our leaders who are not politicians
before we came to this decision. It was not just a decision of the governor or
myself. It was the consensus of a broader political family in Delta,” he
explained.
Responding to criticism from former Senate President Bukola
Saraki, Okowa said: “Saraki has no moral right to speak. He has jumped parties
several times.”
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