Jacob Mark, a former legal adviser of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has said that Ifeanyi Okowa’s recent move to the All Progressives Congress (APC) will not hurt the PDP.

Okowa, who is a former governor of Delta State and was Atiku Abubakar’s running mate in the 2023 presidential election, couldn’t even win his home state during the election, Mark pointed out.

Speaking on Arise TV, Mark questioned what impact Okowa could now make in the APC when he didn’t even deliver Delta State for the PDP when it mattered the most.

He said that while political leaders play roles in elections, they don’t always control how people vote. He praised the people of Delta State for being independent-minded and making choices based on what’s best for them—not just following politicians.

Mark added that Okowa and other political figures may be acting in their own interest, which might not match the interest of the people. He said it’s unclear whether the people will follow Okowa into APC.

According to Mark, defections are common in Nigeria because politics here is not based on strong ideologies. Many politicians switch parties not because they believe in the new party, but for personal gain—such as getting appointments or deals behind the scenes.

He concluded that the true test is whether the ruling government is actually performing and if people are happy, not whether one politician joins or leaves a party.