Former Delta State governor and 2023 PDP vice-presidential candidate, Ifeanyi Okowa, has come under heavy criticism following his speech at the official defection of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and other Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The event took place on Monday at the cenotaph in Asaba.
Shortly after Okowa shared a video of his speech on his verified Facebook page, social media users flooded the comment section with accusations and outrage. Many alleged that his move to the APC was driven by fear of a looming probe by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over an alleged N1.3 trillion fraud.
In his speech at the defection ceremony, Okowa maintained that the switch to the APC was not fueled by personal ambition but by the “collective interest of Delta State.” He described the decision as a “strategic and patriotic” move aimed at aligning the state with the federal government under President Bola Tinubu.
“Whatever decision we took was based on the common good and the need to change our path in the best interest of our state. It was not about me. It was not about the governor, but the fact that there is the need for us to connect to Abuja,” Okowa said.
Despite this justification, his explanation did little to calm critics. Several commenters described the move as opportunistic, questioning the integrity of both Okowa and the current state administration. Some labeled the defection a political maneuver to avoid prosecution, while others lamented what they perceived as a betrayal of party loyalty and public trust.
Voices from the comment section expressed a range of reactions—from anger and disappointment to sarcasm and warnings of potential legal consequences. While a few supported Okowa’s political realignment, the majority viewed it as a desperate act amid corruption allegations.