Delta APC Leadership Tussle Rages

The controversy over who is the leader of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state and Delta Central senatorial district is raging.

The key actors in the tussle are Governor Sheriff Oborevwori; former deputy Senate President, Barr Ovie Omo-Agege; Senator Ede Dafinone representing the Delta Central; and minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Chief Festus Keyamo. They are all from the same senatorial district, Delta Central.

While a faction has recognised the governor as the party leader in the state, another faction insists on Omo-Agege, who flew the party’s governorship flag in 2023.

In Delta Central, a faction accepts Senator Dafinone as its leader in the senatorial zone while another faction recognises Keyamo as the leader.

Recall that Oborevwori decamped from PDP to APC earlier this year. He was accompanied by former governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, serving commissioners and others, in a move that signalled the collapse of PDP in the oil-rich state.

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However, the endorsement of Governor Oborevwori by the Delta Central APC members at a Unity Meeting convened at Ughelli meeting tagged “All Progressive Congress, Delta Central Unity Meeting” on Sunday, sparked reaction from an APC chieftain who described it as a political violation and affront to democracy.

Omo-Agege was said to have stayed off the meeting upon realisation that it was held to endorse Oborevwori for a second term. While the loyalty of state executives is split among lines of the party leaders, Omo-Agege, it was learnt, still controls the party structures at the local government and ward levels.

APC state chairman, Elder Omeni Sobotie, highlighted the significance of the meeting, appreciated supporters for their commitment and commended Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and Festus Keyamo for their leadership in fostering unity within the party.

Chairman of the party in Delta Central Senatorial District, Chief Paulinus Akpeki, noted that the state was witnessing a new dawn under Governor Oborevwori’s leadership and commended him for joining the APC.

But an APC stalwart in Delta Central, Jeckins Ejiro Wisike, in a press statement, posted in his Facebook wall condemned the endorsement, alleging that Governor Oborevwori, is not even a registered member of the party, hence his endorsement is not valid.

“It is a gross political violation and a blatant affront to democracy and its core values, both in Delta state and Nigeria at large. The purported endorsement of Rt. Hon. Elder Sheriff Francis Oborevwori, the current Governor of Delta State, as the sole APC governorship candidate for 2027, is unconstitutional, null, and void.

This action directly contravene the provisions of both the APC Constitution and the Electoral Act 2022, which clearly outlines the proper procedure for the nomination of candidates.

“It is important to emphasise that Governor Oborevwori is not a registered member of the APC, and as such, any claim of his adoption as a candidate of our party is fraudulent and illegal. The so-called “vote of confidence” passed on him at the meeting is inconsistent with our party’s constitutional guidelines and is an affront to the democratic process.”

Meanwhile, at the unity meeting, Senator Dafinone introduced himself as the highest elected political office holder in Delta Central. He accused the organisers of trying to undermine his position so that Keyamo can be elevated more than every other party leader in the state.

Earlier at the event, Keyamo was regarded as the leader of the party in the senatorial district, prompting the senator’s reaction.