By Obah Sylva
Former Delta State Governor and 2023 vice-presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, has explained his decision to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid, declaring that he has “seen the light” and believes Nigeria is now on the right track under the current administration.
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Okowa made the declaration on Saturday while speaking at the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign rally in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where he praised Tinubu’s leadership and called for continued support for the President ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Key Highlights
- Ifeanyi Okowa declares support for Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.
- Former Delta governor says he has “seen the light” under Tinubu’s administration.
- Okowa warns against any return to the fuel subsidy regime.
- APC campaign chief Abdulaziz Yari targets 2.3 million votes for Tinubu in Rivers State.
- Nyesom Wike is urged to help mobilise support for the APC in Rivers.
- Senate President Godswill Akpabio expresses confidence in Tinubu’s support in the South-South.
Why Okowa Is Supporting Tinubu’s Re-Election
Speaking at the rally, Okowa said his decision to support Tinubu was informed by his assessment of the President’s policies and efforts to rebuild the country’s economic foundation.
“I have seen the light. Today, we are on the right track because the president is laying a solid foundation,” he declared.
The former governor also cautioned against bringing back the fuel subsidy regime, arguing that reversing the policy could undermine efforts to establish a sustainable economic foundation for future generations.
According to Okowa, Nigerians must avoid allowing those he accused of previously damaging the country’s economic foundation through the subsidy system to jeopardise the future of younger generations.
His remarks come after his political realignment from the PDP, under which he served as running mate to former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar in the 2023 presidential election, to the APC-led political camp.
Yari Targets 2.3 Million Votes for Tinubu in Rivers
Also speaking at the Port Harcourt rally, Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, set a target of 2.3 million votes for President Tinubu in Rivers State.
Yari expressed confidence that the target was achievable, citing voter registration figures in the state. He claimed that approximately 2.8 million Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) had been collected out of 3.3 million registered voters in Rivers State.
The APC campaign chief urged party supporters to work with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to mobilise voters and deliver the targeted support for Tinubu. He further declared that the party expected nothing less than 80 per cent support from Rivers State.
Akpabio Speaks on Tinubu’s Chances in South-South
Senate President Godswill Akpabio also expressed confidence in the APC’s political prospects in Rivers State, recalling that it was the only South-South state Tinubu won convincingly during the 2023 presidential election. Akpabio said he believed the party could repeat the performance in the next general election.
He also highlighted what he described as changes in Nigeria’s revenue structure under Tinubu, claiming that the Federal Government now generates more revenue from taxation than from crude oil.
APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda described the Tinubu-Shettima presidential ticket as “the best for now in Nigeria,” expressing confidence in the party’s leadership ahead of the next presidential election.
Meanwhile, Senator Magnus Abe defended the Rainbow Coalition in Rivers State, indicating the importance of the political alliance in the APC’s mobilisation efforts in the state.
The rally forms part of the APC’s broader political mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections, with party leaders seeking to consolidate support across the South-South region.
Okowa’s declaration is particularly significant because of his previous position as Atiku Abubakar’s running mate in 2023, highlighting the political realignments taking place ahead of the next presidential contest.
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