ABUJA, Nigeria — Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said he is neither hurt nor offended by the recent defection of his 2023 running mate, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a statement issued on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, by his media adviser, Paul Ibe, Atiku reaffirmed his belief in democratic freedoms, including the right to political association.
“Former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar bears no grudges; he has said that and he means it,” Ibe said.
“As a democrat, he subscribes to the universality and constitutionality of the freedom of association, which is one of the pillars of democracy, without which democracy would be meaningless.”
Okowa, who served as vice-presidential candidate under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general election, formally announced his defection to the APC earlier this week alongside Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and other prominent PDP figures in the state.
The development has sparked internal debate within the opposition party, prompting Atiku’s team to reiterate his unwavering commitment to the PDP.
“We have addressed the issues about coalition, and remember that we had a statement to that effect. Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is not leaving the PDP, and he has said that clearly,” Ibe added.
“As for those talking about him leaving the PDP, we don’t know where they are getting that from.”
Atiku, who has contested for the presidency multiple times since 2007, remains a key figure in the opposition as the country begins to look ahead to the 2027 general elections.
The PDP has meanwhile moved to restructure its leadership in Delta State, dissolve existing party organs, and initiate legal action to reclaim what it described as a “stolen mandate.”
