A former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timi Frank, has criticised former Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, over a reported statement in which he allegedly expressed regret for serving as running mate to Atiku Abubakar during the 2023 presidential election.
Frank, in a statement issued on Wednesday, described the comment—if accurately reported—as disingenuous, claiming Okowa actively lobbied for the vice-presidential slot on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ticket.
While acknowledging the possibility that Okowa may have been misquoted, Frank argued that the former governor’s silence over the report more than 24 hours after it was published indicated tacit approval. He maintained that it was important to clarify the circumstances surrounding Okowa’s emergence as Atiku’s running mate to avoid historical distortion.
“Okowa’s claim of regret is an afterthought. He was desperate for the position and did all he could to secure it,” Frank alleged. He further suggested that the former governor’s recent defection to the APC reflected what he described as a pattern of political opportunism and inconsistency.
Frank, who now serves as Ambassador to East Africa and the Middle East for the United Liberation Movement for West Papua, accused Okowa of lacking political integrity and betraying allies, including former Delta governor James Ibori. He also said Okowa’s inclusion on the 2023 PDP ticket contributed to the party’s poor performance, noting that the PDP lost Delta State in the presidential poll despite Okowa being a sitting governor.
“We are still of the opinion that if Wike had emerged as Atiku’s running mate instead of Okowa, perhaps the PDP would be in government today,” Frank stated. “Okowa brought neither political capital nor electoral value to the ticket.”
The former APC spokesman alleged that Okowa joined the ruling party not out of conviction but to evade scrutiny over corruption allegations. He claimed that Okowa’s alignment with the APC, alongside current Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, was motivated by self-preservation rather than ideology.
“Okowa did not join the APC because he believes in its leadership or agenda. He is simply seeking refuge,” Frank said.
He further claimed that Atiku’s choice of Okowa over other contenders strained his long-standing relationship with Ibori, who had reportedly advised against the pick.
Frank concluded by suggesting that Okowa’s defection would not significantly benefit the APC and that the party risked becoming a “dumping ground” for individuals facing corruption allegations. Neither Senator Okowa nor his spokesperson had responded to the claims at the time of this report.
