In what appears to be a blistering rebuttal of recent reports suggesting that former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa regrets accepting the position of vice-presidential candidate to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in the 2023 presidential election, political activist and former APC Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Timi Frank, has come out swinging.
Speaking through a strongly worded press statement released in Abuja on Wednesday, Frank, who currently serves as the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) Ambassador to East Africa and the Middle East, described Okowa’s reported regrets as a "cowardly afterthought" and a gross distortion of history. He maintained that Okowa was not only eager but desperately lobbied, begged, and fought to become Atiku’s running mate in the 2023 general elections.
“Okowa’s so-called regret is a shameful rewrite of events,” Frank declared. “We know how he begged, fought, and lobbied to be chosen. He was not a passive recipient of that offer – he aggressively pursued it. So coming out now to play the victim is not just dishonest but shows the instability of his character.”
Frank added that even though it’s possible Okowa was misquoted, his failure to refute the report over 24 hours after it surfaced means he has tacitly owned the statement. He further lambasted Okowa as a “serial liar and betrayer” whose recent defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) reveals a pattern of political instability and survivalist tendencies.
“In truth, Okowa is only running into the APC because of the EFCC corruption cases hanging over his head. He’s hoping the defection will offer him a soft landing and protection. But Nigerians and the international community are watching to see if EFCC will treat him with kid gloves now that he is dancing to the tune of ‘On Your Mandate We Shall Stand,’” Frank stated mockingly.
The former APC chieftain did not stop there. He reminded Nigerians of Okowa’s long-standing reputation for betrayal, referencing how he allegedly turned his back on his political godfather and former governor, Chief James Ibori, in his bid for power.
“Okowa has always been untrustworthy. Many of us, myself included, were vehemently opposed to his selection as running mate. We believed Nyesom Wike was a more competent and credible candidate who could have delivered results. Unfortunately, backdoor lobbying by Okowa’s allies swayed Atiku and the PDP elders into making a grave mistake,” he said.
Frank went further to claim that Okowa’s selection significantly contributed to the PDP's failure in the 2023 elections. “Despite being a sitting governor and vice-presidential candidate, the PDP lost Delta State under Okowa’s watch. That alone should speak volumes about his lack of political capital and value.”
According to Frank, neither Atiku nor the PDP should miss Okowa, whom he accused of coaxing Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to defect to APC with him. He warned that even within the APC, Okowa will remain a political liability. “Whether in PDP or APC, Okowa is a baggage of unprofitability,” he added.
He concluded with a sobering reminder to Nigerians, asserting that Okowa’s presence in the APC is further proof that the party has become a sanctuary for politically endangered individuals. “Okowa didn’t join APC out of ideological conviction or belief in Tinubu’s leadership. He joined because of the sins of his past catching up with him.”
Frank’s statement adds another layer of controversy to Nigeria’s turbulent political climate, especially as both the PDP and APC continue to recalibrate ahead of the 2027 general elections. Whether Okowa will respond directly to these damning accusations remains to be seen, but the political drama around his defection is far from over.
END