I Knew We Would Lose The Last Election – Atiku’s 2023 Running Mate Okowa

Former Delta State Governor and Atiku Abubakar’s running mate in the 2023 presidential election, Ifeanyi Okowa, has admitted that he knew the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would lose the election even before the results were announced.

Okowa made the disclosure at a recent event.

POLITICS NIGERIA reports that in the 2023 presidential contest, the PDP ticket of Atiku and Okowa finished behind the All Progressives Congress (APC) with the Labour Party (LP) finishing third.

The former governor said his assessment of the political situation was so clear that he had already told Christian leaders about the likely outcome of the election before Nigerians went to the polls.

“I knew we will not win the election,” Okowa said.

“And even when I met with the Christian leaders, I told them that APC will win, while PDP will come second and then LP will come third,” he added.

The 2023 presidential election was eventually won by Bola Tinubu of the APC, while Atiku came second and Peter Obi of the LP finished third.

The former governor who has moved to the APC is preparing to contest for the Delta North senatorial seat on the platform of the ruling party in the 2027 general election.

At a recent APC event in Ika North-East Local Government Area of Delta State, Okowa urged residents to convert their support for the ruling party into actual votes at the 2027 polls.

“I am overwhelmed by the large turnout of our people. I urge you to remain loyal to the APC and ensure that your support translates into votes for all our candidates in 2027,” he said.

The event, held at Ward 7 in Akumazi, was organised as part of a councillors’ empowerment programme, during which 400 beneficiaries received N50,000 each alongside other forms of assistance.

Okowa also appealed to the beneficiaries to use the support productively to improve their livelihoods.

At the Akumazi event, he also commended Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for appointing an indigene of the community, Charles Aniagwu, as Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information.

Okowa recalled that Aniagwu had also served in his administration, first as his Chief Press Secretary before becoming Commissioner for Information.

He said the appointments were based on Aniagwu’s competence, dedication and commitment to duty.

The former governor further assured the people of Ika North-East that an APC administration would consider the area in the distribution of political appointments and development projects.

Aniagwu, who also spoke at the event, said the first project executed by the Oborevwori administration in Ika North-East was located in Akumazi. He urged residents to reciprocate what he described as the government’s gesture by supporting APC candidates in the 2027 elections.

The APC chairman in Ika North-East, Emeke Asiwe, described the empowerment programme as evidence of the councillors’ commitment to improving the welfare of their constituents.

Okowa’s comments on the 2023 election also come as his former principal, Atiku, prepares for another presidential contest in 2027, this time under the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

The ADC is working to constitute its presidential campaign structure for the Atiku-Amaechi ticket, with former Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal and Senator Augustine Akobundu reportedly being considered for the position of Director-General of the campaign council.

Atiku has also intensified his criticism of the Tinubu administration, particularly its economic policies and claims of increased revenue available to the three tiers of government.

In a recent statement through his spokesperson, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku dismissed the increase in Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) disbursements as a “scam”, arguing that higher naira figures do not necessarily represent an improvement in the economic position of governments or citizens.

“That is not an economic miracle. That is money illusion,” Atiku said.

He compared FAAC distributions of about N7.85 trillion in 2019 with approximately N21.9 trillion in 2025, arguing that the naira increase had been undermined by inflation, the depreciation of the currency and declining purchasing power.

While Tinubu has cited increased FAAC allocations as one of the benefits of the removal of the petrol subsidy, Atiku has maintained that the figures should be assessed against the real value of the naira and the economic conditions facing Nigerians.

Okowa served as Delta State governor from 2015 to 2023.