By Aaron Ossai
Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta North have rejected former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s declaration of victory in the recent senatorial primaries, insisting that Senator Ned Nwoko emerged the overwhelming winner based on results gathered from across the district.
In a strongly worded statement, the stakeholders described Okowa’s announcement as “premature and misleading,” accusing him of attempting to undermine the party’s established electoral process despite clear directives issued by the APC National Organising Secretary.
They noted that the APC had already outlined procedures for the collation and announcement of results, including ward collation, Local Government Area (LGA) collation, designated constituency collation centres, and final submission to the party’s national headquarters.
“The authority to officially declare results lies solely with the National Committee. Any attempt to announce victory outside this process is a violation of party guidelines and an effort to distort public perception,” the statement read.
According to the stakeholders, results from various wards across Delta North indicate a decisive lead for Senator Ned Nwoko, while Okowa’s claims were dismissed as “mere propaganda unsupported by facts.”
Among the results cited were: Ward 7, Ndokwa West: Ned Nwoko – 1281; Okowa – 26, Ward 9, Abbi, Ndokwa West: Ned Nwoko – 1505; Okowa – 420, Ward 7, Akumazi: Ned Nwoko – 687; Okowa – 5, Ward 13, Ute Ogbeje, Ika North East: Ned Nwoko – 415; Okowa – 13.
Ward 10, Idumuesa, Ika North East: Ned Nwoko – 2719; Okowa – 13.
Additional results from Ukwuani and Oshimili South LGAs also reportedly showed strong support for Nwoko, with stakeholders describing the outcome as “consistent and overwhelming across the senatorial district.”
The group further alleged that the primaries were disrupted by intimidation and violence in several locations believed to be strongholds of support for Nwoko.
In Ward 9, Obiaruku in Ukwuani LGA, a party member, Igelige Chukunomnazu, alleged that some voters were intimidated, counting procedures manipulated, and Nwoko supporters attacked during the exercise. He reportedly sustained injuries alongside others and was taken to the hospital.
Similarly, in Ward 8, Aniocha North LGA, an individual identified as Ernest was allegedly stabbed during the process, while in Ward 3 at Anishi Primary School, stakeholders claimed violence forced the returning officer to flee the venue.
Describing the incidents as coordinated attempts to suppress voters’ will, the stakeholders called on the APC National Committee to ensure due process and protect the integrity of the party’s internal democracy.
“This goes beyond a primary election. It is about preserving the credibility of the party and ensuring that the genuine will of party members is respected,” the statement added.
The stakeholders urged the APC leadership to disregard what they described as “manufactured narratives” and announce results that accurately reflect the votes recorded across the wards.
“For Delta North, the outcome is already clear. What remains is for the party to uphold its rules and officially affirm the mandate given to Senator Ned Nwoko,” they concluded.
