Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has hailed the defection of former Delta State Governor and 2023 PDP vice presidential candidate, Ifeanyi Okowa, to the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing it as a “smart political move” and a sign of bold leadership.
Speaking during a media parley in Abuja on Monday, Wike took aim at his former party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), for failing to anticipate the high-profile defection, calling it another example of the party’s faltering internal coordination.
“I’m surprised that the PDP claims they didn’t see it coming,” Wike said. “I warned them. I told some governors—this is the direction things are heading. But they ignored it, thinking they were in control.”
Wike, who has been increasingly critical of PDP’s leadership since his controversial fallout with the party after the 2023 elections, commended Okowa for taking a clear and principled stand, as opposed to what he described as “two-faced politics.”
“Okowa made it clear where he stood — to support the President. Is that a crime?” Wike asked, drawing a comparison to the party’s silence over other figures, including the Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, who supported Labour Party’s Alex Otti for a second term in Abia State.
“In contrast, Okowa chose not to pretend. He didn’t want to stay in PDP and secretly support someone else. That’s what makes him a smart politician,” Wike said.
The FCT Minister further criticized the PDP for what he called a lack of foresight and leadership, suggesting that the party’s refusal to address internal fractures is fueling a wave of defections.
“When the governor, deputy, and entire structure of Delta State move to the APC, and you’re still asking what went wrong—that’s a failure of leadership,” he said.
Okowa’s move to the APC, though not formally confirmed by the former governor, has already sent shockwaves through the PDP, further deepening concerns over the party’s unity ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Political analysts say the defection, if officially affirmed, would mark a major realignment in southern political dynamics and potentially set the tone for further high-profile crossovers in the months to come.
