Former Governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa, has disclosed that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is getting ready to exit the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in anticipation of the 2027 elections.
It’s worth noting that Atiku was the PDP’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, with Okowa serving as his running mate.
On March 20, 2023, Atiku, along with Labour Party’s Peter Obi, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, and others, announced the formation of a coalition aimed at contesting President Bola Tinubu in the upcoming election.
This development has sparked discussions regarding the possibility of a united opposition, eliciting mixed reactions from political figures.
During an appearance on Arise News on Tuesday, Okowa—who recently joined the All Progressives Congress—expressed regret for not siding with his constituents in favor of a southern candidate during the 2023 election, rather than accepting the role as Atiku’s running mate. He remarked, “While campaigning, I sensed that our people were not keen on having another northerner in power.
“However, the decision had already been made by the party at the federal level, and I had been nominated. Looking back, I feel I should have aligned with my people’s wishes.”
He also noted that the election of the current Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, indicates that the populace still trusts their leadership.
Okowa stated, “This demonstrated that the people still believed in us, in me. They acknowledged my accomplishments and supported the governor I endorsed. And they did.”
When asked about his discussions with Atiku prior to leaving the PDP, Okowa said, “I did inform him that we would be holding stakeholders meetings this week and that it would focus on leadership; the results would guide our future direction, as our comfort level with the PDP had diminished.
“I also know from our communications that he is planning to leave the PDP, something that is already apparent to Nigerians.”
