Former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has revealed that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar was preparing to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), highlighting growing disillusionment within the opposition and a possible major political realignment.
Speaking in a live interview on Arise News on Tuesday, Okowa said he had discussed the planned coalition with Atiku prior to his own defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC), suggesting that the PDP presidential flagbearer’s exit from the party was imminent.
“I discussed the coalition with Atiku, who is on his way out of the PDP, before we moved to the APC,” Okowa stated.
Okowa, along with Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and other influential PDP figures in the state, recently defected to the ruling APC following what he described as months of consultations and dissatisfaction with the PDP’s direction.
He cited internal disarray, persistent leadership crises, and the lack of a coherent electoral strategy as reasons for abandoning the party. “It was not just a decision of the governor or myself. It was the consensus of a broader political family in Delta,” he said.
While distancing himself from the proposed opposition coalition said to be led by Atiku, Okowa expressed doubt about its viability. “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 explained.
The former governor also endorsed President Bola Tinubu’s administration, supporting a full eight-year term to preserve political balance and national stability. “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,” Okowa said.
Reflecting on his experience as an opposition governor, he described the limitations that came with being disconnected from federal influence. “We tried our best in Delta, but we couldn’t access many opportunities that could have benefited us,” he said, describing the defection as a strategic move to align Delta State with the federal government and attract development.
