APC in Delta State Faces Internal Strife Following Senate Primaries
The Delta State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is currently grappling with significant discord stemming from the recent Senate direct primaries held in three senatorial districts. This internal turmoil raises concerns about party unity as conflicting claims about the election outcomes emerge.
The candidate declared the winner now perceives himself as the official nominee for the party in the upcoming 2027 general elections. Conversely, the candidate labeled a loser has dismissed the results, awaiting a final verdict from the party headquarters in Abuja, per official directives.
Across the Delta North, Delta Central, and Delta South Senatorial Districts, results were announced by the National Assembly Primary Committee. However, those who were deemed losers continue to assert their claim to victory, citing discrepancies they believe warrant further scrutiny from party leadership in Abuja.
In the Delta North Senatorial District, former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa won decisively with 113,309 votes, overshadowing incumbent Senator Ned Nwoko, who garnered just 2,612 votes. Despite the clear results, Nwoko contested the outcome, arguing that he received nearly all votes within the constituency.
Senator Ede Dafinone emerged victorious in Delta Central District with 116,252 votes, while Ovi Omo Agege, who secured a mere 3,643 votes, hastily proclaimed himself the true winner based on results from 85 wards that had been compromised.
“In light of the recent guidance from the APC National Organizing Secretary, we await a formal declaration from Abuja,” Omo Agege stated, emphasizing the need for party members to maintain unity amid the ongoing disputes.
In the Delta South Central District, incumbent senator Joel Onowakpo Thomas was declared the winner with 87,805 votes, despite Michael Diden (Ejere) receiving 30,798 votes. Diden’s supporters nonetheless congratulated him on his performance in the election.
Delta State’s Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Publicity, Mr. Charles Aniagu, defended the election results, asserting that the process was transparent and indicative of genuine voter sentiments. He rebuffed claims of electoral manipulation or imposition, labeling dissenting candidates as “impostors” who were ill-prepared.
Aniagu emphasized that the parliamentary primaries were conducted openly via the Option A4 voting system, ensuring the integrity of the results. He also stated that the APC had formed an appeals committee for unqualified candidates, highlighting the party’s commitment to transparency in the electoral process.
In a different light, former DESOPADEC member Kenny Okolugbu criticized the conduct of the election through a social media post. He cautioned that the shortcomings of internal democracy within the party could jeopardize overall unity, expressing skepticism about the effectiveness of direct primaries in several areas.
