‘Okowa fought for VP slot, now cries regret’ — Timi Frank
Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has condemned former Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, over a reported statement in which he expressed regret for accepting to be Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s running mate in the 2023 presidential election.
In a statement on Wednesday, Frank said while Okowa may have been misquoted, his failure to debunk the claim more than 24 hours later suggested he stood by the comment. He warned that such a narrative, if left unchallenged, could distort facts and mislead Nigerians about the events leading to Okowa’s emergence as vice-presidential candidate.
Frank described Okowa’s reported regret as an “afterthought,” insisting the former governor had lobbied vigorously for the position. He accused Okowa of desperation, claiming he now seeks to avoid EFCC prosecution by aligning with the APC for political protection.
He also labeled Okowa a “serial betrayer,” citing his alleged backstabbing of former political ally and ex-governor James Ibori. According to Frank, Okowa has shown a consistent pattern of political opportunism and lacks the credibility to feign regret.
Frank revealed that many PDP members, including himself, had opposed Okowa’s selection as Atiku’s running mate, believing that then-Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike possessed greater political value and national appeal.
“If Wike had been selected instead, PDP might have had a better shot at victory. Okowa brought no electoral value—he couldn’t even deliver Delta State to the PDP despite being a sitting governor and vice-presidential candidate,” Frank said.
He slammed Okowa’s defection to the APC, describing the ruling party as a “dumping ground for looters,” and accused President Bola Tinubu’s government of accommodating defectors for the sake of political survival ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Frank concluded that neither Atiku nor the PDP would miss Okowa, whom he blamed for contributing to the party’s 2023 loss, adding that his defection alongside Governor Sheriff Oborevwori would yield no political gains for the APC.
