Ifeanyi Okowa, former governor of Delta state and the
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) vice-presidential candidate in the 2023
elections, says his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) is not for
personal gains.
Okowa spoke in Asaba on Monday at a rally organised by the
APC to welcome him and Sheriff Oborevwori, governor of the state, to the party.
“Today, obviously, is a great day for us in Delta state,” he
said.
“When the news broke out on Wednesday, the 23rd of April,
2025, that we have 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 of the
people.”
He said the decision to join the APC was driven by the need
to “connect with Abuja”, where Delta state is a “large contributor”.
“And whatever decision that we took was based on that common
good, and the need to change our path in the best interest of our state,” he
said.
“As I did tell people that day, it was not about me. It was
not about the governor, but the fact that there is the need for us to connect
to Abuja.
“That goodwill that is in Abuja, that resource that is in
Abuja, of which Delta state is a large contributor, there was a need to connect
to it.”
Okowa said although he served as governor for eight years
under the PDP, there was a need for a stronger connection with the centre.
“I was governor for eight years. I was in opposition. I did
my best, but we lost a lot,” Okowa stated.
“And I did not believe that the governor needed to stay
working very hard and we know that we are very supportive of Governor Sheriff.
“But as the governor is doing a lot for us, he also needs to
connect to the greater source of power and resource and goodwill in Abuja.”
Okowa said the decision was made after consultation with PDP
leaders and stakeholders at various levels.
“And when we sat down after a stakeholders meeting, we
thought that it was necessary to make this move,” he said.
“This move is bold. It is strategic. It is patriotic and it
is well-intentioned. That decision that our governor took, that we needed to
move after consultation with the leaders of the party, which was cascaded down
to the local governments and the world, is the best interest for our state.”
Okowa also called for support for President Bola Tinubu and
Oborevwori, saying that the party’s move will help dominate politics in the
state.
“It is time for us to stand together in great support for Mr
President and Mr Governor. Because together, we can truly dominate the politics
in Delta state,” he said.
He expressed optimism that the decision would lead to
positive results for the state.
“I believe there will be no other party with this move that
we have made and we are going to stretch out our hands across to our brothers,
across all other states, that we can reach. And I believe that a great result
will come from it,” Okowa said.
He thanked Oborevwori for his leadership and expressed
confidence in the decision they had made.
“Thank you, Mr Governor, for blazing the trail. You have put
us forth, and I believe that it’s going to yield a lot of results,” he said.
“We trust you. We believe in you. We believe in the decision
that we have collectively taken. May God lead you and keep you very close to Mr
President. We will support you. We will support Mr President. And God will
truly bless us in Delta state because it is well with us.
“We are a great state and a great people and now we have
made the right decisions, a bold one, in the best interest of us all. Let us go
back home and let the people know that we have taken this decision in their
best interest.”
On April 23, Oborevwori and other PDP bigwigs in Delta
state, defected to the APC.
On Sunday, Festus Keyamo, minister of aviation and aerospace
development, announced that the APC structure in Delta is now fully under the
governor’s control.
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