Atiku will soon leave PDP, says Okowa as he backs Tinubu for 2027

Former Delta State Governor and 2023 vice-presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, has dropped a political bombshell by revealing that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is on his way out of the PDP.

Speaking during an interview on Arise TV on Tuesday, Okowa confirmed speculations about a broader political realignment, stating that Atiku, the PDP’s 2023 presidential flagbearer, was aware of—and had been consulted on—the decision by himself, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, and other Delta PDP stakeholders to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“I discussed the coalition with Atiku, who is on his way out of the PDP, before we moved to the APC,” Okowa disclosed.

The former governor distanced himself from the proposed grand opposition coalition reportedly led by Atiku, describing it as lacking “clarity, structure, and urgency.”

“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 said.

In a dramatic reversal of political loyalties, Okowa threw his weight behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and called for the president to complete a full eight-year tenure.

“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. I believe that is the right thing,” Okowa stated.

The former governor, who served two terms from 2015 to 2023, cited the PDP’s internal dysfunction as a key reason for the mass defection in Delta State. He pointed to leadership tussles, lack of unity, and absence of a coherent electoral strategy as signs that the party was no longer viable heading into 2027.

“We had various levels of meetings with several stakeholders and even consulted some of our leaders who are not politicians before we came to this decision. It was not just the governor or myself. It was the consensus of a broader political family in Delta,” he explained.

Okowa also noted that his experience as a state governor during an opposition administration shaped his perspective on the need for alignment with the federal government.

“We tried to do our best in the state. But we could not lay our hands on a lot of things that would have benefited us at the federal level,” he said, adding that joining the APC was necessary to “reconnect Delta State with the corridors of power in Abuja.”

In response to criticism from former Senate President Bukola Saraki, Okowa dismissed Saraki’s remarks, saying, “He has no moral right to speak. He has jumped parties several times.”

The developments mark a deepening of the crisis within the PDP, as defections continue to rattle the opposition party amid uncertainty over its future leadership and electoral relevance.