Former Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, has expressed regret over his decision to serve as the running mate to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, in the 2023 general elections.
In an interview with Arise TV, Okowa revealed that he made the choice despite opposition from his state and supporters, who were against the idea of another northerner succeeding former President Muhammadu Buhari.
He said, “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.”
Mr. Okowa made his statement after defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The former Delta State governor explained that his decision was motivated by a desire to advance the interests of his state by gaining access to federal resources in Abuja.
READ ALSO: We Decamped to APC to Connect Delta with Abuja — Okowa
In response, Mr. Abubakar said he held no grudges over Mr. Okowa’s defection, noting that such political moves are a normal part of democratic practice.
“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,” Mr Atiku said in a statement last Friday.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has asserted that the upcoming 2027 election transcends traditional party politics, framing it instead as a confrontation between the Nigerian populace and what he describes as the ineptitude of Bola Tinubu’s administration.
He emphasized that the election is not a contest between political parties like the APC, PDP, or LP, but a struggle between Nigerians and an administration that has subjected the nation to significant hardship.
Atiku criticized the current government’s performance, citing economic decline, rising inflation, job losses, and increasing youth unrest as indicators of its failure.
“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,” Mr Abubakar said.
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