Senator Abba Moro, representing Benue South, has attributed the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) loss in the 2023 presidential election to what he described as a poor decision in selecting former Delta State governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, as the party’s vice-presidential candidate.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Moro said the choice of Okowa to run alongside Atiku Abubakar was a strategic error.
“Looking back now, many of us believe the PDP stood a better chance of winning the election if someone else from the South had been chosen,” he said.
Moro described the selection as a misjudgment by those who played key roles in determining the party’s ticket. “There was a clear error of judgment in picking Okowa,” he added.
His comments follow Okowa’s recent appearance on Arise Television, where the former governor admitted he regretted accepting the running mate offer, claiming the decision lacked support from his own people. This statement came shortly after Okowa and Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), which Okowa said was done in the “best interest” of their people.
Reacting to these developments, Senator Moro criticized Okowa’s remarks, stating they confirmed a lack of genuine commitment to the PDP’s cause during the election.
“His heart was never truly with the party or the campaign. That explains our dismal performance in Delta State,” Moro asserted.
He questioned how a prominent figure like Okowa—then a sitting governor and former senator—was unable to secure his own state for his party during the presidential poll.
“When a governor and a party’s vice-presidential candidate fails to deliver his state, it raises serious questions about his commitment,” he added.
Moro concluded that Okowa’s defection and his public expression of regret further prove that the party’s defeat was rooted in misplaced trust and weak internal loyalty.
“Rather than apologizing for his role in the outcome, he’s expressing regret over being chosen. It’s now clear that the loss stemmed from a lack of true dedication,” Moro said.
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