Former Nigerian Vice-Presidential Candidate Okowa Defects To APC In Major Political Shift.
In a seismic shift in Nigerian politics, Ifeanyi Okowa, former Delta State governor and vice-presidential candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 presidential election, has defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The announcement, made on Wednesday in Asaba, also saw Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and other prominent PDP figures join the APC, marking a significant blow to the opposition party.
The defection was declared by Senator James Manager at the Government House in Asaba, where he revealed that the entire PDP structure in Delta State, including Okowa, Oborevwori, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, the state party chairman, and local government chairmen, had collectively moved to the APC. Manager described the PDP as a “sinking boat,” citing internal challenges as a key reason for the mass exodus.
Okowa, addressing supporters in his native dialect, sought to reassure them of the decision’s merits. “We will not go in the wrong direction. We will take the best path for our people,” he said, as captured in a widely circulated video. The former governor, who served from 2015 to 2023 and was Atiku Abubakar’s running mate in the 2023 election, is a towering figure in Delta politics, making his departure from the PDP particularly significant.
Delta State has long been a PDP stronghold, with Okowa’s leadership cementing its dominance. The 2023 presidential election saw the PDP lose to the APC’s Bola Tinubu, who now leads Nigeria’s federal government. This defection is poised to bolster the APC’s influence in the region, potentially reshaping the political landscape ahead of future elections.
The move has sparked varied reactions. Some analysts view it as a strategic gain for the APC, strengthening its foothold in the South-South geopolitical zone. However, earlier statements from APC stalwarts, such as Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, who in February 2025 urged Okowa and Oborevwori to remain in the PDP, suggest potential tensions within the APC over integrating such high-profile defectors.
This defection aligns with a broader trend of political realignments in Nigeria, where party loyalties often shift in response to changing dynamics. The loss of Okowa, a key ally of Atiku Abubakar, could further weaken the PDP’s national standing, particularly as it grapples with internal divisions.
As of now, neither the APC nor PDP national leadership has issued an official statement. However, the event is likely to dominate political discourse in the coming days, with implications for both Delta State and Nigeria’s wider political arena.