Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta North have rejected former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s claim of victory in the party’s senatorial primaries, insisting that Senator Ned Munir Nwoko overwhelmingly won the exercise based on results from across the district.
In a statement issued after the primaries, the stakeholders described Okowa’s declaration as “self-imposed” and contrary to party guidelines, stressing that only the APC National Committee has the authority to officially announce results.
According to the group, the APC had established a clear process for collation and declaration of results, beginning from ward and local government collation up to final submission to the party’s national headquarters.
“The authority to declare results rests solely with the National Committee. Any premature declaration amounts to a violation of party procedure,” the statement said.
The stakeholders argued that figures collated from several wards showed a clear lead for Senator Ned Nwoko over the former governor.
They cited results from parts of Ndokwa West, Ukwuani, Oshimili South and Ika North East LGAs, where Nwoko reportedly secured wide margins against Okowa.
The group also alleged that incidents of intimidation and violence occurred in some wards during the exercise, particularly in areas believed to have strong support for Nwoko.
They claimed that in Obiaruku, Ukwuani LGA, some party members were allegedly attacked during the counting process, while another incident in Aniocha North reportedly left a party supporter injured.
The stakeholders called on the APC National Committee to ensure that the final outcome reflects what they described as the true will of party members across Delta North.
According to them, “the integrity of the party and internal democracy must be protected through a transparent and credible declaration process.”