The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has commended former Delta State Governor and 2023 PDP vice-presidential candidate, Ifeanyi Okowa, for his recent defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing it as a “smart move” and a bold display of political maturity.
Speaking during a monthly media briefing on Monday in Abuja, Wike criticized the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for being blindsided by Okowa’s exit, asserting that the party had failed to heed earlier warnings about internal instability.
“I’m surprised the PDP didn’t see it coming,” Wike said. “I warned them. I called some of the governors and told them the direction things were heading. They ignored it, thinking nothing would happen.”
Wike defended Okowa’s decision to openly support President Bola Tinubu, contrasting it with what he described as the hypocrisy of some party leaders. He referenced the PDP Board of Trustees Chairman’s endorsement of Labour Party’s Alex Otti for a second term in Abia State, asking why such actions hadn’t drawn similar criticism.
“He [Okowa] chose not to pretend. He said he was going to support the President. Is that a crime?” Wike questioned. “Others are playing both sides, but he made his position clear. That’s a smart politician.”
Wike, who has remained an outspoken critic of PDP’s leadership, reiterated his concerns about the party’s direction and internal disunity.
“This is what happens when there’s no clear leadership,” he said. “Now everyone is surprised that the governor of Delta State, his deputy, and his entire team have left for the APC. What exactly did he do wrong?”
Okowa’s defection comes amid growing realignments and political maneuvering ahead of the 2027 general elections, further exposing the cracks within the PDP’s ranks.
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