Akpabio Links Okowa’s APC Defection to EFCC Investigation

Akpabio Links Okowa’s APC Defection to EFCC Investigation

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has alleged that former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) partly because of concerns over an ongoing investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Akpabio made the allegation while discussing political developments in Delta State in an audio recording involving Sandra Duru, which was circulated publicly and reported by Nigerian media organisations.

According to reports quoting the recording, Akpabio said Okowa’s defection to the APC was influenced by fears surrounding the corruption allegations against him, rather than solely by political considerations.

The Senate President was also quoted as saying that Okowa was not involved in discussions surrounding the emergence of the current APC leadership, claiming that key decisions had already been taken before the former governor joined the party.

Akpabio further claimed that he played a role in helping Okowa secure the APC senatorial ticket for Delta North ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The allegation has emerged against the backdrop of the EFCC investigation into Okowa, which dates back to his tenure as Delta governor between 2015 and 2023.

Okowa was arrested and questioned by the EFCC in November 2024 over allegations involving the management of funds accruing to Delta State through the 13 per cent derivation allocation from the Federation Account.

The investigation has also focused on alleged investments and assets associated with the former governor, including interests linked to the UTM Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (FLNG) project and properties in Asaba and Abuja.

Okowa has denied wrongdoing and previously said he was not afraid of being investigated, maintaining that funds belonging to Delta State were used appropriately during his administration.

The former governor’s political move to the APC did not bring the EFCC investigation to an end.

READ ALSO:

• Barau Sacks Aide Over ‘Abba Must Go’ Social Media Posts
• Niger Miners’ Deaths: FG Suspends 21 NSCDC Officers, Releases Names
• Adeyanju Rejects Payment for Niger Miners’ Probe, Vows to Expose Any Cover-Up

The anti-graft agency has previously stated that Okowa’s defection to the APC would not stop its investigation. In a more recent development, Okowa visited the EFCC’s Lagos office in June 2026 amid the continuing investigation.

Reports at the time said the visit was connected with efforts to secure the release of his international passport to enable him to travel abroad for medical treatment. There was no indication that the visit amounted to a fresh arrest.

The EFCC has maintained that the investigation remains active. Its Director of Legal and Prosecution, Sylvanus Tahir, SAN, was quoted as saying that the case was still undergoing investigation and that the commission would act based on its findings.

The continuing investigation is significant in assessing the context of Akpabio’s latest allegation, but the EFCC’s position does not establish that the investigation was the reason for Okowa’s defection.

Okowa joined the APC in April 2025, alongside his successor, Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, several commissioners, local government chairpersons and other political leaders who previously belonged to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

At the time, Okowa explained the decision in terms of Delta State’s relationship with the Federal Government.

He said the state needed to establish stronger links with the Federal Government in Abuja because of its contribution to the national economy and the resources available at the federal level.

The former governor had previously served as the PDP’s vice-presidential candidate alongside Atiku Abubakar in the 2023 presidential election.

His subsequent move to the APC represented a significant political realignment in Delta State and brought him into the same party as Governor Oborevwori and other former PDP leaders in the state.

Okowa has since secured the APC ticket for the Delta North senatorial contest scheduled for the 2027 elections.

Akpabio, who represents Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District, has also become involved in the political arrangements surrounding Okowa’s new role within the APC.

The Senate President’s latest comments have nevertheless raised questions about the circumstances surrounding the former governor’s defection, particularly because the EFCC investigation remains unresolved.

However, no public evidence has established that Okowa joined the APC in order to stop or avoid prosecution by the EFCC. Akpabio’s statement is an allegation about the former governor’s motivation, while Okowa’s publicly stated reason for joining the APC centred on the political and developmental interests of Delta State.

The allegations also come as political parties and their leading figures intensify preparations for the 2027 general elections, with defections and alliances continuing to reshape party structures across the country.

For now, the established position is that the EFCC investigation involving Okowa remains ongoing, while the reason Akpabio has attributed to the former governor’s APC defection remains his own claim.

The outcome of the EFCC investigation and any future response from Okowa could provide further clarity on the issues surrounding the allegations.

Akpabio Links Okowa’s APC Defection to EFCC Investigation