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Ifeanyi Okowa

Former Delta State Governor and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) vice-presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Ifeanyi Okowa, has admitted that he knew the party was heading for defeat even before the final results were announced.

Okowa made the disclosure at a recent event while reflecting on the outcome of the 2023 presidential election, in which he was the running mate to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

The former governor’s comment offers a fresh insight into the PDP’s assessment of its chances during an election that produced a fiercely contested three-way presidential race.

According to Okowa, the signs that the PDP would not emerge victorious were already apparent to him before the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) formally announced the final outcome.

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Atiku and Okowa contested the election on the platform of the PDP against the eventual winner, Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and Labour Party candidate Peter Obi.

The APC ticket secured first place, while the PDP finished second and the Labour Party came third.

The result triggered widespread political debates, legal challenges and internal discussions within the opposition parties over the factors that shaped the outcome.

Okowa’s latest revelation comes amid continuing efforts by opposition political actors to review the events of the 2023 election and draw lessons ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The former Delta governor did not, in the account provided, give detailed reasons for his belief that the PDP would lose before the results were declared.

His comments, however, suggest that concerns about the party’s electoral prospects existed within its leadership and campaign structure even before INEC announced the final figures.

The 2023 presidential election was marked by intense competition, particularly among the APC, PDP and Labour Party, as the three major contenders sought to succeed former President Muhammadu Buhari.

Tinubu was eventually declared winner after polling 8,794,726 votes, while Atiku secured 6,984,520 votes and Obi received 6,101,533 votes, according to the official results announced by INEC.

The outcome was subsequently challenged in court by the PDP and Labour Party candidates, but the Supreme Court ultimately upheld Tinubu’s victory.

Okowa’s admission is likely to renew discussions about the PDP’s campaign strategy, internal cohesion and electoral calculations during the 2023 contest.

It also comes as Nigeria’s political parties and emerging alliances increasingly turn their attention to the 2027 presidential election, with opposition forces examining the mistakes and divisions that affected their performance four years earlier.

The Traffic NG
Ifeanyi Okowa
Amarachi Ihesiulo

Ihesiulo Grace Amarachi is a Nigerian journalist, writer and media professional serving as the Editor-in-Chief of TheTraffic.NG, a digital news platform covering national and international affairs. Her editorial interests span politics, business, aviation, health, technology, entertainment, sports and social development. She is committed to credible journalism, insightful reporting and compelling storytelling that informs public discourse and keeps readers abreast of important developments in Nigeria, Africa and beyond.

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