Former Delta State Governor and 2023 Vice Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, has said that the party is not prepared to be a viable competitor in the 2027 general elections.
Speaking on tuesday during an interview on Arise TV on recent mass defection of Delta political leaders, including himself and Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC), Okowa said the decision followed months of careful consultation and internal reflection among stakeholders.
“We have a political family in Delta State,” Okowa said. “Previously, we were in the PDP, but several things have been going on in the party. As stakeholders and leaders in Delta State, we sat down and looked at events over the past several months.”
He continued: “Based on what we saw and the communications coming from the PDP leadership, it did not appear to us that the PDP was a proper political vehicle for us to continue in. It also did not appear that the PDP was ready to be competitive in the 2027 elections.”
According to Okowa, issues such as internal crises, unresolved court cases, and the lack of clarity over party leadership—including the role of the national secretary—led to doubts about the PDP’s preparedness.
“When a party, led by its current leadership, is making decisions that suggest it is not ready, and is choosing to go it alone with fewer governors, refusing alliances or coalitions with other parties, how do they expect to compete?” he asked.
Okowa emphasized that the decision to defect was not personal but a collective one made by the broader Delta political family.
“It’s not about Governor Oborevwori—he is the leader of the party in the state as the governor—and it’s not about me. It’s about the people of Delta State,” he said. “This was the conclusion of several consultations at different levels with stakeholders and even non-political leaders. I believe our decision is right politically, and we mean well for our people.”
Speaking on comments by former Senate President Bukola Saraki, who reportedly criticized his defection, Okowa said: “I don’t believe Senator Bukola Saraki has the moral right to speak about my defection. He has moved to the APC before and eventually returned to the PDP. So, having had movements to and fro, he has no moral standing to criticize me.”
In a significant political statement, Okowa also endorsed President Bola Tinubu to complete a full eight-year tenure, urging Nigerians to support the current administration for national stability.
“For the stability of this nation, I do believe that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who was elected in 2023, should be allowed to complete his eight-year tenure,” Okowa said. “Then the presidency can move back to the North. I believe that is the right thing.”
He described the move to the APC as a strategic alignment with the centre, saying, “It is to restore Delta State to the corridors of power in Nigeria.”