Former Delta State governor and one-time running mate to Atiku Abubakar, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, has explained why he abandoned the former vice-president and is now backing President Bola Tinubu’s re-election campaign. Speaking at an All Progressives Congress rally in Port Harcourt, Okowa said he had “seen the light” and now believes Tinubu is laying a solid foundation for Nigeria.
Okowa, who served as Atiku’s running mate in the 2023 presidential election, warned against any attempt to restore the fuel subsidy. He argued that the subsidy regime had damaged Nigeria’s economic foundation and should not be allowed to threaten the future of the country’s children.
His comments came at an APC presidential campaign rally where party leaders sought to consolidate support in Rivers State ahead of the January 16, 2027 election. The event also featured APC Presidential Campaign Council Director-General Abdulaziz Yari, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda, and Rivers political figures including Magnus Abe and Nyesom Wike.
Yari set a target of 2.3 million votes for Tinubu in Rivers State. He said the target was realistic because about 2.8 million Permanent Voter Cards had been collected in the state out of 3.3 million registered voters. He urged supporters to work with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike to deliver the votes, adding that the APC expected “nothing less than 80 percent” from Rivers.
Akpabio said Rivers was the only South-South state that Tinubu won convincingly in 2023 and expressed confidence that the President would repeat the result. He also claimed that, under Tinubu, Nigeria now generates more revenue from taxation than from crude oil.
Yilwatda described the Tinubu-Shettima ticket as “the best for now in Nigeria,” while Abe defended the Rainbow Coalition in Rivers, saying its primary objective was to secure Tinubu’s return to office.
Okowa’s public endorsement marks a significant political shift, given his previous role as Atiku’s running mate. His decision adds to the pressure on the opposition as the 2027 campaign gathers pace and highlights the APC’s effort to expand support beyond its traditional strongholds.