Former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has disclosed that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is preparing to exit the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in anticipation of the 2027 general elections.
Atiku, who ran for president in the 2023 elections under the PDP with Okowa as his running mate, has been linked with a coalition involving Labour Party’s Peter Obi, former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai, and others.
The coalition, unveiled on March 20, 2023, is seen as a strategic move to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the next election cycle.
During an interview on Arise News on Tuesday, Okowa—who officially joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday—reflected on the 2023 elections, expressing regret over his decision to support a northern candidate.
“Even when we were campaigning, I realised our people were not interested in having another northerner come into power,” he said.
“But the decision had already been taken at the federal level by the party, and I had been nominated. Still, in retrospect, I now believe I should have gone with the will of my people.”
He added that the election of the current Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, proves that the people still have confidence in their leadership.
Okowa added, “That showed the people still believed in us, believed in me. They said you’ve done well, and we will support the governor you have chosen. And they did.”
When asked about his discussions with Atiku prior to leaving the PDP, Okowa responded, “I actually did communicate with him that we were going to have stakeholders meetings this week (in the last week) and that it was going to be a leadership meeting and the outcome of that meeting was going to determine our next path because we were no longer comfortable with the PDP.
“And I also know that he is already heading out of the PDP from the communications he has passed on to me, and that Nigerians know already.”
What you should know
Ifeanyi Okowa, a two-term Delta State Governor and 2023 vice-presidential candidate, recently defected from the PDP to the APC, citing disillusionment with the party’s direction and regret over not backing a southern presidential candidate.
His public statements suggest that Atiku Abubakar, his former running mate and a long-time PDP stalwart, is also planning to leave the party.
Atiku’s potential departure comes amid moves to form a coalition with other prominent opposition leaders ahead of the 2027 elections.
This development indicates possible realignments that could reshape Nigeria’s political opposition landscape.
ALSO READ TOP STORIES FROM VERILY NEWS
