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.”
