Former Delta state governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, has said former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who was 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will soon leave the party.
Okowa said this on Tuesday during an interview on ARISE TV.
Okowa stated this while explaining why he defected from PDP to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), alongside Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, and other key PDP stakeholders in Delta state.
Senator Okowa noted that the decision was taken after series of consultations that ran into months, and disillusionment with the state of the PDP.
“I discussed the coalition with Atiku, who is on his way out of the PDP, before we moved to the APC,” Okowa revealed, confirming rumours that the 2023 PDP presidential flagbearer is rethinking his political future.
Okowa distanced himself from the proposed grand opposition coalition led by Atiku, saying it lacked clarity, structure, and urgency.
“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 threw his weight behind President Tinubu, calling for “a full eight-year tenure.”
The former Delta State governor noted that Tinubu’s re-election in 2027 would uphold the turn of the South in the presidential rotation and serve Nigeria better.
He said: “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.”
On attack by former President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, Okowa said: “Saraki has no moral right to speak. He has jumped parties several times.”
Meanwhile, the national leadership of the PDP has instructed its Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade, to prepare legal processes to take the Governor Sheriff Oborevwori; Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, the party’s former vice-presidential candidate, and the entire PDP structure in Delta to court for defecting to the APC.
Addressing journalists after the first meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC) for the year, acting national chairman, Amb Umar Damagum, explained that the party was prepared to challenge the defection legally to reclaim its mandate, as the officials were initially elected under the PDP platform.
The chairman further disclosed that the party has tasked Emma Ogidi, the caretaker chairman for the South-South zone, with taking over the leadership structure of the Delta state PDP.
Ogidi is also to search for new party leaders, while disregarding the existing leadership under Chief Dan Orbih.
On April 23, 2025, a dramatic defection saw Ifeanyi Okowa, Governor Oborevwori, and the entire PDP structure in Delta State join the APC.
This marked a significant shift in one of the PDP’s strongholds.
In a major political realignment, Delta’s deputy governor, Monday Onyeme, state commissioners, local government chairmen, and the state’s grassroots machinery all joined the APC after a closed-door meeting in Asaba, which was reportedly influenced by the political changes known as the “Hurricane Tinubu”.
This defection has raised concerns of a potential drift toward a one-party state, according to opposition claims.
Meanwhile, the PDP has scheduled its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting for May 27, to further discuss the developments.