Ifeanyi Okowa
Ifeanyichukwu Arthur Okowa CON (born 8 July 1959) is a Nigerian doctor and politician who served as Governor of Delta State from May 2015 to May 2023. A member of the Peoples Democratic Party, he is the party's vice presidential nominee in the 2023 presidential election running alongside Atiku Abubakar.
Ifeanyi Okowa CON | |
|---|---|
Image of Okowa | |
| Governor of Delta State | |
| In office 29 May 2015 – 29 May 2023 | |
| Deputy | Kingsley Otuaro |
| Preceded by | Emmanuel Uduaghan |
| Succeeded by | Sheriff Oborevwori |
| Senator for Delta North | |
| In office 29 May 2011 – 29 May 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Patrick Osakwe |
| Succeeded by | Peter Nwaoboshi |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Ifeanyichukwu Arthur Okowa 8 July 1959 Owa-Alero, Eastern Region, British Nigeria (now Owa-Alero, Delta State, Nigeria) |
| Political party | Peoples Democratic Party |
| Residence | Asaba, Delta State |
| Alma mater | University of Ibadan |
| Profession | Politician, medical doctor |
Born in Owa-Alero in 1959, Okowa graduated from the University of Ibadan in 1981. After schooling, he worked in medicine for several years before entering politics. Okowa first established himself in local politics before entering the state cabinet of Governor James Ibori in 1999. After leaving cabinet in 2006, Okowa made a failed primary bid for governor before returning to the state cabinet under his former opponent Emmanuel Uduaghan. By 2011, Okowa moved to national politics and successfully ran for Senator for Delta North. After four years in the Senate, he returned to Delta and was elected governor by a wide margin in 2015 becoming the first ethnic Ika (Igbo speaking) or person from the state's north to be governor. Okowa was later re-elected by a similar margin in 2019.