Former Delta State Governor and 2023 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) vice-presidential candidate, Ifeanyi Okowa, has revealed that he knew before the presidential election that the party was unlikely to emerge victorious.
Okowa made the disclosure in a video circulating online, while reflecting on the 2023 presidential contest and the performances of the PDP, Labour Party (LP) and All Progressives Congress (APC).
Despite serving as the running mate to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the former governor said he had already reached the conclusion that the PDP would not win the election. 
“Although I was the vice-presidential candidate, I knew that we would not win the election,” Okowa said.
He also reflected on the unexpected rise of the Labour Party and its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, during the 2023 campaign.
Obi, who had left the PDP and secured the Labour Party presidential ticket, attracted significant support, particularly among younger voters and in parts of southern Nigeria.
According to Okowa, there was a point during the election build-up when political observers and some Christian leaders believed the Labour Party had a realistic chance of winning the presidency.
He recalled telling Christian leaders about the emerging political calculations and the expected distribution of votes.
“And in one way, even when I met the Christian leaders, I told them, this is where the P6 came in. And the votes came in, so the P6 came and we thought that the Labour Party would win,” he said.
Parts of Okowa’s remarks in the circulating video were unclear, making it difficult to establish the full context of some of his comments about the conduct of the election in certain parts of the country.
How PDP Lost the 2023 Presidency
The 2023 presidential election was won by APC candidate Bola Ahmed Tinubu, according to results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Tinubu secured 8,794,726 votes, while Atiku Abubakar polled 6,984,520 votes and Peter Obi received 6,101,533 votes.
The outcome was fiercely contested, with both Atiku and Obi challenging Tinubu’s victory at the Presidential Election Petition Court.
Their legal challenges were unsuccessful, with the courts ultimately upholding Tinubu’s victory.
The election nevertheless triggered widespread debate over electoral transparency, vote transmission, voter turnout and the performance of political parties.
2027: Atiku Moves to ADC
Okowa’s comments come as Nigeria’s opposition landscape undergoes another major realignment ahead of the 2027 general election.
Atiku has since left the PDP and joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC), where he has emerged as the party’s presidential candidate.
Former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi has also been announced as his running mate, setting the stage for another major presidential contest.
With Tinubu seeking another term and opposition politicians working to build a stronger coalition, the lessons and controversies surrounding the 2023 election are expected to remain central to the political debate ahead of 2027.
