Agboje Chuks
The recent stakeholders’ meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Delta North Senatorial District has laid bare simmering internal conflicts within the party, particularly between long-standing APC members and recent defectors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The conspicuous absence of prominent figures, including immediate past Delta State Governor Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, Deputy Governor, Sir Monday Onyeme, members of the House of Assembly, and several serving Commissioners and Council Chairmen from the nine Anioma Local Government Areas, ignited fresh concerns about party unity.
The meeting, hosted by Senator Ned Nwoko in Idumuje Ugboko, underscored the existing chasm. Rt Hon Victor Ochei, a former Speaker of the state’s House of Assembly and ex-chieftain of NIMASA, openly acknowledged the divisions, lamenting the persistent “parochial grievances” preventing harmonious coexistence between old APC members and PDP defectors in Delta North.
“There is no shying away from the truth. There is a part of the party that is not here. It is our responsibility to bring all of us together,” Ochei stated.
Despite the notable absences, the gathering, attended by state chairman Elder Omeni, Delta North Senatorial chairman Ogbuefi Adizue Eluaka, Hon Ngozi Okolie (representing Aniocha-Oshimili Federal Constituency), and Dr. Chamberlain Dukwu (Chief of Staff to the Speaker of the House of Representatives), declared unwavering support for the re-election bids of President Bola Tinubu, Governor Oborevwori, and Senator Nwoko.
However, this show of solidarity did little to mask the underlying tensions, revealing that the widely touted “total collapse of PDP structure into the ruling party” might have been a superficial declaration.
While the reasons for the boycott remained adduced, it was evident that securing the APC’s return ticket for the trio had been met with internal grievances.
The meeting praised the President and Governor Oborevwori for providing responsible leadership within their two years in office, and lauded Senator Nwoko for his effective representation, oversight functions, and contributions to law-making.
Attendees expressed confidence that with the perceived integration of the PDP structure, the 2027 elections would be “very easy to conduct and win.”
A motion for the adoption of President Tinubu, Governor Oborevwori, and Senator Nwoko was moved by former House of Representatives member Hon Ossai N. Ossai and seconded by Hon Felix Ndokwe.
The resolution emphasized the need for stronger party unity, particularly with the PDP defectors, in anticipation of the 2027 general elections. The meeting also passed a vote of confidence in Governor Oborevwori, citing infrastructure development like the dualized Ughelli-Asaba road, and in Senator Nwoko.
Furthermore, the gathering reaffirmed the pursuit of Anioma State creation, claiming support from 75 Senators. A party chieftain, Chief Emma Ejiofor, urged stakeholders’ support for this ambition, issuing a stern warning: “Any member of the Delta State House of Assembly from the Senatorial District that refuses to support the creation of Anioma State, will be recalled by the electorate in their constituencies.”
