Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timi Frank, has claimed that former Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, actively lobbied and pleaded to be selected as the running mate to Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections.
Frank made the allegation in a statement on Wednesday, while reacting to Okowa’s recent claim that he regrets accepting the vice-presidential nomination.
Describing Okowa’s comment as an “afterthought,” Frank said the former governor was desperate for the position and did everything possible to secure it.
“It is understandable that Okowa is currently fighting to avoid prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over corruption allegations,” Frank said. “But trying to rewrite history by claiming he regrets being Atiku’s running mate is not only dishonest but also shows cowardice at its peak.”
“We all witnessed how Okowa begged, fought, and lobbied for the vice-presidential slot,” he added.
Frank also accused Okowa of a pattern of betrayal, citing the fallout between him and former Governor James Ibori, whom he referred to as Okowa’s political godfather.
“This isn’t the first time Okowa has betrayed someone close to him,” Frank said. “His fallout with James Ibori, a man who helped elevate him politically, is still fresh in our memory.”
He further claimed that Okowa was not a popular choice within the PDP and lacked the capacity and political clout required for the role.
“Many of us did not support his emergence as vice-presidential candidate. We believed he lacked the experience and capacity for such a high office,” Frank said. “If Governor Nyesom Wike had been chosen instead, perhaps the PDP would be in power at the federal level today.”
He concluded by calling Okowa “ungrateful” and accused him of contributing little to the PDP’s efforts during the 2023 election.
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