Former Delta State Governor and 2023 PDP vice-presidential candidate, Ifeanyi Okowa, says his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) was a strategic decision made for the good of Delta State, not for personal gain.

Speaking in Asaba on Monday at a rally organized by the APC to welcome him and Governor Sheriff Oborevwori into the party, Okowa described the move as patriotic and necessary for Delta’s future.

“Today, obviously, is a great day for us in Delta State,” he said. “When the news broke on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, that we had decided to change our path, people wondered why. But one thing is very important. In the history of a people, there is always a time to change their path for the common good.”

Okowa stressed the importance of connecting Delta to the federal government, highlighting the state’s significant contributions to national resources.
“As I told people that day, it was not about me. It was not about the governor, but about the need for us to connect to Abuja. That goodwill, that resource in Abuja, of which Delta is a large contributor — we needed to connect to it,” he explained.

Reflecting on his time as governor under the PDP, Okowa admitted that operating from the opposition cost the state valuable opportunities.
“I did my best, but we lost a lot. And I did not believe that the governor needed to stay working hard without a stronger connection to the centre,” he said.

He revealed that the defection came after broad consultations with PDP leaders and stakeholders, describing the move as “bold, strategic, patriotic, and well-intentioned.”

Calling for unity, Okowa urged supporters to rally behind President Bola Tinubu and Governor Oborevwori.
“It is time for us to stand together in great support for Mr President and Mr Governor. Together, we can truly dominate politics in Delta State,” he added.

He thanked Oborevwori for leading the move and expressed confidence in their collective decision.
“We trust you. We believe in you. May God lead you and keep you close to Mr President. We will support you. We will support Mr President. And God will truly bless Delta State because it is well with us,” Okowa said.

Governor Oborevwori and several prominent PDP leaders in Delta State officially defected to the APC on April 23. On Sunday, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, announced that the APC structure in the state is now fully under the governor’s control.