2027: Okowa firmly in Senate race, no missing N1.3trn — Former CPS
A former Chief Press Secretary to ex-Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, Mr. Olisa Ifeajika, has said the former governor is firmly in the race for the 2027 senatorial election, dismissing
A former Chief Press Secretary to ex-Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, Mr. Olisa Ifeajika, has said the former governor is firmly in the race for the 2027 senatorial election, dismissing allegations that N1.3 trillion is missing from the state’s coffers.
Ifeajika, who addressed journalists on Tuesday in Asaba, described the claims as baseless and politically motivated.
He urged political actors to avoid what he termed “politics of thuggery, lies and insults,” insisting that campaigns should focus on issues rather than misinformation aimed at discrediting opponents.
According to him, the total revenue that accrued to Delta State during Okowa’s eight-year tenure stood at N2.65 trillion, and a full account of how the funds were spent had already been made public in 2024. He maintained that no funds were missing, stressing that the earlier statement issued on the matter had not been challenged with contrary evidence.
Clarifying reports about Okowa’s interaction with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ifeajika said the former governor was neither arrested nor detained but only honoured an invitation by the agency in Port Harcourt, where he responded to a petition and returned to Asaba the same day.
He added that if any wrongdoing had been established, the EFCC would have taken appropriate action, cautioning against using unverified allegations to call for the imprisonment of political figures.
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Ifeajika also refuted suggestions that the defection of Delta political leaders from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) was intended to shield Okowa from investigation. He said the decision followed wide consultations with stakeholders across the state, including Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, party leaders, and grassroots members, citing internal crises within the PDP as the primary reason for the move.
Highlighting achievements during Okowa’s administration, Ifeajika pointed to the domestication of the state’s health insurance scheme, which he said expanded access to healthcare through an affordable annual premium.
He further disclosed that Okowa, after consultations with stakeholders across the nine local government areas of Delta North Senatorial District, had obtained and submitted his nomination form under the APC to contest the 2027 Senate election.
Ifeajika commended the current administration in Delta State, saying Governor Sheriff Oborevwori had sustained development through impactful policies and projects, while dismissing ongoing criticisms as distractions that had failed to gain traction.
