I Regret Running with Atiku in 2023 – Okowa

Former Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, has admitted he regrets accepting the role of vice-presidential candidate alongside Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in the 2023 general elections. In a candid interview on Arise Television’s *Morning Show*, Okowa revealed that the decision may have gone against the wishes of his people, particularly amid growing sentiments in the South for a power shift away from the North.

Reflecting on the political dynamics leading up to the election, Okowa acknowledged that while his nomination was made at the federal level by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), he now believes aligning with Atiku may have alienated key supporters in Delta State. “Even when we were campaigning, I realised our people were not interested in having another northerner come into power,” he said. “Still, in retrospect, I now believe I should have gone with the will of my people.”

Okowa linked the PDP’s poor showing in Delta during the presidential poll to this disconnect, stating that although he ran out of loyalty to the party, the South clearly preferred to produce President Muhammadu Buhari’s successor. However, he noted that PDP’s strong performance in the state-level elections weeks later—winning 21 out of 25 local governments—was a sign that the people still trusted his leadership and supported his chosen successor, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori.

Addressing criticisms surrounding his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC), Okowa dismissed claims that the move was to avoid prosecution or seek forgiveness. He insisted he has no case with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), explaining that while he had been invited by the commission, he was never arrested. “Petitions can be written by anybody, but the EFCC has the right of investigation. There are no fears concerning that at all,” he said.

He described the decision to join the APC as the product of extensive consultations across Delta, arguing that continued opposition politics had placed the state at a disadvantage in accessing federal resources and influence. On whether he owed an apology for switching parties, Okowa was unequivocal: “Yes, I was a key player in the PDP from the formative stages, but the PDP of today is not the same party we built in 1998. When you find that the values and vision you once believed in are no longer there, then you step away.”

Okowa also clarified that he had no personal relationship with APC leader Adams Oshiomhole prior to his defection, saying their first conversation only took place recently due to their longstanding political differences.