Former Governor of Delta State, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, has admitted that his decision to accept the position of vice-presidential candidate to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in the 2023 general elections was a political miscalculation that contradicted the expectations of his people.
Okowa made the disclosure on Monday during an appearance on Arise Television’s *Morning Show*, where he revealed that, in hindsight, aligning with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s ticket, which featured another northerner after President Muhammadu Buhari, was at odds with the popular sentiment in the South.
“Even during the campaigns, I could feel that our people didn’t support that direction,” Okowa stated. “But the party had already made its decision, and I had been nominated. Looking back now, I believe I should have aligned with the will of my people.”
He acknowledged that the PDP’s disappointing performance in Delta State during the presidential election was largely due to this disconnect, as many in the region strongly advocated for power to shift to the South.
Despite expressing continued loyalty to the PDP, Okowa admitted that his decision had political consequences and was met with resistance from his base. He reiterated that the widespread southern interest in producing the next president was legitimate and deserved more consideration.
The former governor’s comment marks the first public expression of regret over the controversial decision, which many political analysts had earlier linked to the PDP’s struggles in the South during the 2023 polls.