By James Okon
Former Delta State Governor Senator Ifeanyi Okowa has challenged Senator Bukola Saraki’s criticism of his recent defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC), asserting that Saraki lacks the moral authority to comment on his decision.
On Monday, key political figures in Delta State, including Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, Okowa, and various political appointees, officially joined the APC, marking a significant shift in the state’s political landscape. The mass defection has left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in disarray.
Following the defections, Saraki, the former Senate President, issued a statement condemning Okowa’s move, suggesting it reflects the declining state of politics in Nigeria. He described Okowa’s decision, especially given his previous role as the PDP’s Vice Presidential candidate in the 2023 election, as “unprecedented” and indicative of a broader leadership crisis.
“It is shocking and unbecoming. It’s simply a sign of how low we have sunk as a polity,” Saraki remarked.
In response, Okowa addressed the issue on Arise Television’s “The Morning Show” on Tuesday, expressing surprise that Saraki would comment on his political shift. He emphasized that Saraki himself had previously defected from the PDP to the APC and returned, questioning his credibility on the matter.
“I do not expect someone like Senator Bukola Saraki to speak concerning my decision, because he knows he has also moved to the APC before and eventually returned. He has had movements back and forth, so I don’t think he has the moral right to comment on my defection,” Okowa stated.
Okowa further clarified that the recent wave of defections in Delta State was a collective decision made by all political stakeholders, driven by ongoing crises within the PDP. He noted that recent communications from the party’s leadership indicated that the PDP was not a viable political vehicle for Delta State as it approaches the 2027 elections.
“Several issues have arisen within the party. While I do not wish to engage in disputes, our leaders in this state have deliberated on recent events, and given the current state of affairs and communications from the PDP leadership, it did not appear to us that it was a proper political vehicle for us to continue with,” Okowa explained.
He concluded by asserting that the PDP governors’ rejection of a coalition, along with the party’s leadership crisis, suggests that the opposition party is unprepared for competition in the upcoming electoral landscape.
