Okowa: I Knew Atiku, PDP Would Lose 2023 Presidential Election

Former Delta State Governor and 2023 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) vice-presidential candidate, Ifeanyi Okowa, has disclosed that he knew ahead of the election that he and the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, would lose the 2023 presidential poll.

Okowa made the disclosure at a recent event in Delta State while reflecting on the political situation that preceded the election.

The former governor said his assessment of the political landscape had convinced him that the All Progressives Congress (APC) would emerge victorious, with the PDP coming second and the Labour Party (LP) finishing third.

He said he had shared his prediction with Christian leaders before Nigerians went to the polls, despite being Atiku’s running mate in the election.

“I knew we would not win the election. And even when I met with the Christian leaders, I told them that APC will win, while PDP will come second and then Labour Party will come third,” Okowa said.

His prediction ultimately matched the final ranking announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The electoral body declared Bola Tinubu of the APC winner of the February 25, 2023 presidential election, while Atiku came second and LP candidate, Peter Obi, finished third.

The outcome of the election was subsequently challenged in court by opposition candidates, including Atiku and Obi, but the legal challenges did not overturn Tinubu’s victory.

Okowa’s revelation offers an insight into the internal assessment of the PDP’s chances before the 2023 election and the challenges confronting the party at the time.

His comments come amid renewed political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections, with Atiku now pursuing another presidential bid on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), while Okowa has moved to the APC.

The disclosure is also likely to fuel fresh discussions about the factors that shaped the 2023 presidential contest and the lessons opposition parties may draw from the election as they prepare for another fiercely contested poll in 2027.