A chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Dele Momodu, has claimed that the defection of the immediate past governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa, might not be unconnected with his ongoing trial by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

DAILY NIGERIAN reports that Mr Okowa, who was a running-mate to the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in the 2023 elections, Atiku Abubakar, dumped the opposition party alongside his successor, Sheriff Oborevwori, and the entire state structures.

In November 2024, the anti-graft agencies arrested Mr Okowa over alleged misappropriation of 13 per percent derivation funds amounting to ₦1.3 trillion.

He was also accused of failing to render accounts for another N40bn he used to acquire shares in UTM Floating Liquefied Natural Gas.

He was subsequently granted bail by the commission.

But speaking during an interview on Channels TV on Wednesday, Mr Momodu said he believed the trial was part of what informed the former governor’s decision.

“Well, I am a very good student of Nigerian political history, so nothing surprised me about our politicians. The history of Nigerian politics is plagued with stories of defection,” Mr Momodu said.

“When you talk about our leader Okowa joining APC, I am not surprised. He has been under serious harassment in recent times, and don’t forget that in 1993 one of the first people to dump Chief Moshood Abiola was Babanaga Kingibe, who was his running mate.

“It’s nothing new. what will surprise me is if President Bola Ahmed Tinubu believes that people are joining APC because they love him or because he is doing fantastically well.

“What people are doing now is a game of survival. Gone are the days we used to boast that going to prison makes us a martyr.

“Nobody wants to go detention; everybody wants to be at home and enjoy the money they have made in politics.

“So if you see people today, name one of them who has not been harassed by the EFCC, ICPC, or special fraud unit at different times,” Mr Momodu added.

He accused the APC government of using the carrot-and-stick approach to intimidate opposition leaders.

“But in politics any can change in 24 hours”, he added.