7 things to know about Atiku’s running mate, Ifeanyi Okowa

The cat is now out of the bag! With just 24 hours to the deadline issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for political parties to submit the names of their vice-presidential candidates, Atiku Abubakar, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 presidential election, has picked Ifeanyi Okowa, Governor of Delta State, as his running mate.

For avid watchers of the Nigerian political scene, it is no surprise that Atiku, a former vice president, picked Governor Okowa. His name was bandied for several days as the likely choice of the PDP and their presidential candidate, and we analysed his chances here and mentioned why he would be the likely pick.

Now that he has been formally announced as Atiku’s running mate, Nigerians deserve to be informed about who Governor Okowa is. Therefore, below are seven things to know about the PDP vice-presidential candidate.

Family background and religious denomination

Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa was born on 8 July 1959 at Owa-Alero in Ika North-East Local Government Area of Delta State. He hails from Owa-Alero in Ika, one of the towns of Anioma origin (the Igbo-speaking communities in Delta) in the state.

Okowa is a Christian by faith.

Educational institutions attended

Okowa attended Edo College in Benin City, the Edo State capital, from 1970 to 1976 for his secondary school education.

He then proceeded to the University of Ibadan, where he studied Medicine and Surgery. He graduated from the ivory tower in 1981 with an MBBS degree.

Political entry: Third Republic

Okowa served in various positions in Delta State during the botched Third Republic. He was appointed Secretary to the Ika Local Government. He was subsequently elected as Chairman of the Ika North-East Local Government Council, from 1991 to 1993.

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Stints as commissioner, his failed governorship attempt, and Secretary to State Government appointment

Upon Nigeria’s return to democracy, Okowa joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and was appointed as the Delta State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources from July 1999 to April 2001. He then served as Commissioner for Water Resources Development from April 2001 to May 2003, and Commissioner for Health from September 2003 to October 2006.

Okowa resigned his appointment in 2006 to contest the 2007 Delta State PDP governorship primaries. However, he did not emerge as the party’s candidate for the election. However, Emmanuel Uduaghan, the PDP candidate who subsequently won the governorship election, appointed Okowa as the Secretary to the State Government in 2007.

Senatorial election

Okowa emerged as the PDP candidate for the 2011 Delta North Senatorial District election, but his victory at the primary was contested. A re-run was held, and he won convincingly against his opponent. He subsequently won the main senatorial election and served as the district’s senator.

Election as Governor of Delta State

Okowa remained persistent in achieving his major goal, and once again, he decided to throw his hat into the ring to contest the 2015 Delta PDP governorship primary. Nine years after his first attempt, he was, this time declared the winner of the primary and became the party’s standard-bearer for the 2015 Delta governorship election.

Okowa won the election and was sworn in as the Governor of Delta State. He got elected for a second term in 2019 and is currently serving it.

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Serving as PDP’s “Jega” in primaries

One characteristic which has made Governor Okowa popular in the PDP and certainly played a big role in earning him the chance to become Atiku’s running mate is that he is an individual who is deemed unbiased when it comes to issues of principle.

This was accentuated when he was appointed as Chairman for the 2018 Ekiti PDP governorship primary in June 2018. He was lauded for organising the election in a free and fair manner and was given a bigger assignment: to conduct the PDP presidential primary ahead of the general election the following year.

The doctor-turned-politician was appointed as Chairman of the 2019 PDP presidential primary in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, in October 2018. He quelled the apprehension of those who felt that Port Harcourt was not a natural and fair venue to conduct the primary and also resisted pressure from certain quarters to manipulate the process. Okowa personally oversaw the successful conduct of the exercise transparently. Members of the party are still hailing the conduct of the primary to date.

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