Former Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, has reacted strongly to remarks by ex-Senate President Bukola Saraki, who questioned Okowa’s recent defection from the People’s Democratic Party, PDP.
Okowa, now a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, stated that Saraki lacked the “moral standing” to criticize his political choices given his own history of party-hopping.
Speaking through a media statement on Tuesday, Okowa expressed disappointment that Saraki would publicly condemn his defection, calling it “ironic” considering Saraki’s own defection from the PDP to the APC in 2014, and back to the PDP ahead of the 2019 elections.
“I find it amusing that Senator Saraki, of all people, would question my political realignment when he has moved across party lines more than once,” Okowa stated. “My decision is based on conviction, strategy, and the interest of my people.”
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The former Delta governor emphasized that his move was not driven by personal gain, but by the need to align with a political platform that would enable him to better contribute to national development and local empowerment.
“I am a grassroots politician. I don’t play politics for applause. I consult, I calculate, and I act with the best interest of Delta and Nigeria at heart,” he added.
Okowa also accused Saraki of attempting to stoke division within the opposition bloc, advising him to focus on uniting the PDP instead of attacking those who have chosen a different path.
Political observers note that the exchange may reflect deeper tensions within the PDP, as prominent figures either seek new platforms ahead of 2027 or re-evaluate their political futures after the 2023 general elections.
As political alignments continue to shift, both leaders remain influential voices in Nigeria’s evolving democratic space.
Crediblenewsng.com
