'Atiku to Leave PDP Ahead of 2027 Election,' Okowa Speaks

• Vice-Presidential candidate of the PDP in the 2023 election, Ifeanyi Okowa, has said he decided to defect to the APC because “the PDP is not ready for the 2027 general elections”
• According to the immediate past governor of Delta state, presidential hopeful Atiku Abubakar is also on his way out of the PDP
• Legit.ng recalls that recently, Okowa and other political leaders in Delta state exited the PDP for the APC, a development that has elicited notable reactions across Nigeria

Legit.ng journalist Ridwan Adeola Yusuf has over 9 years of experience covering elections, politics, and governance in Nigeria.

Asaba, Delta state - Former Delta state governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, has said that former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, who was the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), will soon leave the party.

Okowa said this on Tuesday, April 29, during an interview on Arise TV, monitored by Legit.ng.

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“Atiku is on his way out of the PDP”: Okowa Mentions Major Regret about 2023 elections

Atiku, 78, has run unsuccessfully for president of Nigeria six times, in 1993, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, and 2023.

Political alignments have started to take shape ahead of the 2027 general elections in Nigeria and Atiku is believed to be leading a coalition against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The coalition includes Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, a former governor of Kaduna state; ex-minister Rotimi Amaechi; presidential hopeful Peter Obi; among others.

Okowa said:

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

On the planned coalition, Okowa said:

"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."

2027 election: Okowa knocks Saraki

Meanwhile, Okowa hit back at former Senate President Bukola Saraki for faulting his defection.

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2027 election: 'Why Tinubu must complete 8-year tenure,' Atiku's running mate in 2023 opens Up

Okowa said Saraki lacked the moral right to criticise his decision to join the APC.

Okowa restated that defections of PDP members, including him and the governor (Sheriff Oborevwori), to the APC were a collective decision of all political stakeholders in the state.

He said:

“I didn’t expect somebody like Senator Bukola Saraki to be able to speak about me because he also moved to the APC before eventually returning. I don’t think he has the moral right to speak about my defection at all."

Read more on the 2027 election:

• 2027 election: Primate Ayodele shares fresh 'prophecy', lists 5 PDP govs to work for Tinubu, APC
• "Victory in Kano state in 2027": APC declares as NNPP strongmen join party

Keyamo: Delta was the soul of PDP

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Festus Keyamo, the minister of aviation and aerospace development, said the PDP has lost its “soul” following the defection of political heavyweights in Delta state into the APC.

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Delta defection: Drama as Okowa fires back at Saraki, defends move to APC, “You’ve no moral right”

Keyamo explained that Delta state was one of the major funders of the PDP, adding that Oborevwori’s defection is a major boost for the APC ahead of the 2027 elections.

The minister asserted that the defection is also significant for the people of Delta, noting that it would help the state to align with the politics at the centre.

Source: Legit.ng