Stakeholders of the Delta North chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have rejected what they described as a “self-declared victory” by former Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, in the party’s senatorial primary election.
The stakeholders insisted that available results from across the district showed that Ned Nwoko won the contest overwhelmingly.
In a statement issued in Asaba, the group accused Okowa of attempting to undermine established party procedures by allegedly announcing victory before the completion of the official collation process outlined by the APC National Organising Secretary.
According to the stakeholders, the party had already established a clear framework for the exercise, including ward collation, local government collation, designated constituency collation centres and final submission of results to the party’s national headquarters.
“The authority to declare results rests solely with the National Committee. What Okowa has done is a clear violation of party rules and an attempt to manipulate perception ahead of due process,” the statement read.
The group maintained that figures collated from several wards across Delta North indicated massive support for Nwoko, dismissing Okowa’s claim as “fiction sustained by propaganda.”
Among the results cited were Ward 7 in Ndokwa West, where Nwoko reportedly polled 1,281 votes against Okowa’s 26 votes, while in Ward 9, Abbi, also in Ndokwa West, Nwoko allegedly secured 1,505 votes against 420 votes for Okowa.
In Akumazi Ward 7, Nwoko was said to have scored 687 votes compared to Okowa’s five votes, while in Ward 13, Ute Ogbeje, Ika North East, the senator reportedly polled 415 votes against 13 votes for the former governor.
The stakeholders also listed several results from Ukwuani and Oshimili South local government areas, which they claimed showed a consistent pattern of dominance in favour of Nwoko.
“These figures are not isolated — they reflect a consistent and overwhelming pattern across the district. The people have spoken clearly in favour of Senator Ned Nwoko,” the statement added.
The stakeholders further alleged that the primary election was marred by violence and intimidation in some areas believed to be strongholds of support for Nwoko.
They cited incidents in Ward 9, Obiaruku in Ukwuani Local Government Area, where a party member identified as Igelige Chukunomnazu allegedly sustained injuries following attacks during the exercise.
According to the statement, supporters of Nwoko were allegedly intimidated, while vote counting processes were manipulated.
The group also alleged that an individual identified as Ernest was stabbed during the exercise in Ward 8, Aniocha North Local Government Area, adding that photographic and video evidence of the incident existed.
In Ward 3, Anishi Primary School, the stakeholders claimed that violence escalated to the point that the returning officer reportedly fled the venue for safety.
Describing the incidents as coordinated efforts to suppress voters, the stakeholders called on the APC National Committee to intervene and ensure that the final declaration reflected the actual outcome of the exercise.
“The integrity of the party is at stake. This is not just about a primary election — it is about whether internal democracy will be upheld or sacrificed to manipulation,” the statement said.
The group urged the party leadership to disregard what it described as “manufactured narratives” and formally affirm the outcome that reflected the will of party members across Delta North.
