Why I ditched Atiku – Okowa
Former Delta State Governor and 2023 vice presidential candidate, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, has announced his support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election campaign.
At a rally hosted by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Saturday, Okowa stated that he had “seen the light” regarding Nigeria’s political direction. He emphasized the importance of supporting Tinubu, calling his leadership a foundation for progress.
Okowa also expressed concerns about the potential reinstatement of fuel subsidies, warning that past policies had undermined Nigeria’s stability. He urged against allowing individuals responsible for previous economic issues to compromise future prospects for the nation’s youth.
During the same rally, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, Director General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, set a goal of securing 2.3 million votes for Tinubu in Rivers State during the January 16 election. Yari noted that approximately 2.8 million Permanent Voter Cards had already been collected from a total of 3.3 million registered voters in the state, suggesting that the target is attainable. He called on supporters to assist Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike in mobilizing voters and indicated that the party expects to achieve at least an 80 percent turnout in Rivers.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio remarked that Rivers was the only state in the South-South that Tinubu won decisively in the 2023 elections. He expressed confidence that the APC could replicate this success. Akpabio also claimed that under Tinubu’s administration, Nigeria currently generates more revenue from taxation than from crude oil.
APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda referred to the Tinubu-Shettima ticket as “the best for now in Nigeria.” Meanwhile, Senator Magnus Abe defended the Rainbow Coalition’s involvement in the state, asserting that its primary focus is to ensure Tinubu’s re-election.
