Senator Ned Nwoko has formally rejected the outcome of the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primaries in Delta State, alleging that the state government engineered a systematic manipulation of the exercise to install preferred candidates.
Speaking in an interview, the Delta North lawmaker described the process as a pre-determined charade that violated every principle of internal party democracy. He claimed that from the very first day, the exercise was compromised through a conspiracy involving state authorities.
According to Nwoko, midway through the voting process, party officials were instructed to stop announcing results at the ward level. Instead, they were ordered to forward all figures to Abuja for a centralized declaration—a move he argued was designed to bury the true outcome.
He revealed that his camp has already submitted ward-by-ward results and video evidence to relevant authorities, insisting that a proper review would expose the manipulation.
Taking specific issue with a widely circulated video showing former Delta State governor Ifeanyi Okowa being declared winner, Nwoko said the footage represented just one of 98 wards. He challenged the party to release videos and figures from the remaining 97 wards before any final declaration could be accepted.
The senator vowed not to endorse any result ratified by the party leadership that contradicts what he called the genuine mandate of APC members. He stated flatly: “I wouldn’t accept. Because I have a mandate by the people.”
While acknowledging isolated incidents of violence and intimidation, Nwoko dismissed them as inconsequential to the overall manipulation.
He also explained that his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was driven by frustrations with the Delta political establishment, including Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, whom he accused of restricting his political operations.
Despite his grievances, Nwoko reaffirmed his loyalty to the APC and expressed confidence that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would intervene. He insisted he would continue working for the party’s success, but not at the expense of accepting a flawed primary outcome.
He further alleged that long-standing APC members in Delta had been marginalised following the influx of former PDP figures, despite earlier promises of inclusion and power-sharing.
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