Okowa Regrets Running With Atiku Against Tinubu in 2023 – Okowa

Okowa with Atiku as PDap presidential running mate
By Correspondent
Former Governor of Delta State, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, who is presently being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has said he regretted his decision to run as the vice-presidential candidate alongside Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in the 2023 presidential election.
Okowa said the decision contradicted the zoning and wishes of his people which favoured Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Speaking on Arise Television, Okowa described his acceptance of the role as a misalignment with the prevailing sentiments in Delta State — an issue he said he has deeply reflected upon.
He said, “Even when we were campaigning, I realised our people were not interested in having another northerner come into power.
“But the decision had already been taken at the federal level by the party (PDP) and I had been nominated. Still, in retrospect, I now believe I should have gone with the will of my people.”
Okowa explained that the decision to defect was not taken lightly and was a collective resolution by key political figures in Delta State.
He said it was necessitated by internal crises and a lack of strategic direction within the PDP.
“Several things have been going on in the party. While I do not want to join issues with people, as stakeholders, our leaders in this state have sat down to look at the events in the last several months,” Okowa noted.
“Because of the events that we see and the communications coming out from the leadership of the PDP at the moment, it did not appear to us that that was a proper political vehicle for us to continue in.”
It will be recalled that Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have earlier arrested Ifeanyi Okowa, for alleged diversion of N1.3 trillion 13% derivation fund from the federation account between 2015 and 2023 when he served as governor of Delta State.
Okowa was arrested on Monday, November 4, 2024, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, when he reported at the Port Harcourt Directorate of the EFCC on the invitation of investigators handling the financial crimes.
According to reports, the EFCC accused the former governor of failing to render accounts of the funds as well as another N40 billion he allegedly claimed he used to acquire shares in UTM Floating Liquefied Natural Gas.
Specifically, Okowa allegedly bought shares worth N40 billion in one of the major banks in the country representing 8% equity to float the offshore LNG. The funds were alleged to be used for other purposes.
Investigators were quoted also to be investigating the diversion of funds by the former governor to acquire estates in Abuja and Asaba in Delta state.