Former Governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, has fired back at former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, over comments criticizing his recent defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying Saraki lacks the moral standing to speak on the matter.

On Monday, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, his predecessor Okowa, and several political appointees formally defected to the APC, marking a significant realignment of political forces in Delta State.

Reacting to the development, Saraki issued a scathing statement condemning Okowa’s move, describing it as “unprecedented” and emblematic of Nigeria’s deepening political crisis. Saraki noted that Okowa, who served as the PDP’s Vice Presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, had betrayed the party’s ideals.

“It is shocking and unbecoming. It’s simply a sign of how low we have sunk as a polity,” Saraki stated.

In a swift response during an appearance on Arise TV’s The Morning Show on Tuesday, Okowa dismissed Saraki’s remarks, questioning his credibility to comment on defections given his own political history.

“I did not expect someone like Senator Bukola Saraki to speak about my defection, because he, too, had moved from the PDP to the APC and eventually returned. He has moved back and forth. So I don’t think he has the moral right to speak about my decision,” Okowa said.

He explained that the defection was not a personal decision but a consensus among key stakeholders in Delta State, driven by the ongoing crisis within the PDP.

“Several things have been going on in the party. While I do not want to join issues with people, as stakeholders, our leaders in this state sat down to review events in recent months. From the communications we received from the PDP leadership, it no longer appeared to be a viable political vehicle for us heading into the 2027 elections,” Okowa stated.

The former governor also pointed to the PDP’s internal divisions and its rejection of coalition talks as signs that the party is ill-prepared to compete effectively in 2027.