In a sharp rebuttal that has stirred Nigeria’s political waters once again, allies of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar have responded forcefully to recent comments made by former Delta State Governor and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Vice Presidential candidate, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa. The spat highlights lingering rifts within the PDP following its bruising loss in the 2023 general elections.
Okowa, in a recent interview, reportedly alluded to internal sabotage within the party ranks, subtly suggesting that Atiku's presidential bid may have been undermined by certain figures in his own camp. The comments, perceived by many as a veiled swipe, did not go unanswered.
A senior member of Atiku’s camp, speaking on condition of anonymity, described Okowa’s statements as “revisionist” and “a desperate attempt to rewrite history.” According to the source, the Delta ex-governor should “look inward” before pointing fingers.
“Nobody sabotaged Atiku more than the silence and indecision that plagued the southern PDP governors, including Okowa himself, during the critical moments of our campaign,” the source noted. “If there were cracks, they didn’t start from the top — they started from a failure of collective resolve.”
The PDP entered the 2023 elections facing one of its most significant internal crises in decades. The fallout from the party's presidential primary — which saw Atiku emerge victorious over contenders like Nyesom Wike — led to the formation of the now-infamous G5 governors, who openly distanced themselves from the campaign.
While Okowa was chosen as Atiku’s running mate, his selection created a fresh wave of dissent, particularly from those who believed the vice-presidential slot should have gone to a candidate from the South-West or someone capable of mending fences within the aggrieved blocs.
Political analyst Dr. Yusuf Aminu argues that “the bitterness following Okowa’s nomination never truly healed. What we’re seeing now is the aftershock of a poor attempt at reconciliation.”
In their response, Atiku’s loyalists emphasized unity and accountability. Rather than trading blame, they called on PDP leaders to conduct honest introspection and focus on rebuilding the party ahead of future elections.
“We lost the 2023 election as a family,” a statement from a PDP support group aligned with Atiku reads. “But healing can only begin when we stop revising history and start owning our individual and collective roles in what went wrong.”
They also warned that continued public squabbling could weaken the PDP’s image in the eyes of voters already fatigued by inter-party conflict.
As Nigeria’s political landscape braces for the 2027 election cycle, the PDP remains in a critical phase of rebuilding. With new alliances forming and defections already in motion, unity is no longer a luxury — it’s a necessity.
While the back-and-forth between Atiku’s camp and Okowa may seem like a personal feud, it underscores a much deeper ideological challenge within the party: reconciling ambition with collective interest.
Whether this recent flare-up will lead to sincere dialogue or further division remains to be seen. But one thing is clear — the road to 2027 will test the PDP’s resilience, and every word uttered now will echo loudly in the days ahead.
