Delta North APC Stakeholders Reject Okowa’s Victory Claim

Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta North have rejected what they described as the “self-imposed and propagandist declaration of victory” by former Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, insisting that results from the field showed Senator Ned Munir Nwoko won the senatorial primaries overwhelmingly.

In a statement made available to LEADERSHIP, and signed by their spokesman, Engr Emma Eboh, the stakeholders accused Okowa of attempting to subvert established party procedures by prematurely declaring himself winner despite clear guidelines issued by the APC National Organising Secretary.

According to the stakeholders, the party had, before the primaries, outlined a strict process for result collation and announcement, including Ward Collation, Local Government Area (LGA) Collation, Designated Constituency Collation Centres and final submission to the 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 said.

The stakeholders maintained that figures emerging from across Delta North overwhelmingly favoured Senator Ned Nwoko, dismissing Okowa’s claim as “fiction sustained by propaganda.”

They cited results from several wards across the senatorial district, including Ward 7, Ndokwa West, where Nwoko allegedly polled 1,281 votes against Okowa’s 26 votes, with 35 void votes out of 1,342 accredited voters.

In Ward 9, Abbi, Ndokwa West, Nwoko was said to have secured 1,505 votes against Okowa’s 420 votes, while in Ward 7, Akumazi, Nwoko reportedly scored 687 votes against Okowa’s five votes.

The stakeholders also listed results from Ward 13, Ute Ogbeje, Ika North East, where Nwoko allegedly polled 415 votes against Okowa’s 13 votes, and Ward 10, Idumuesa, Ika North East, where Nwoko was said to have secured 2,719 votes against Okowa’s 13 votes.

They further cited results from Ukwuani Local Government Area, including Ward 8 where Nwoko reportedly polled 450 votes against Okowa’s 20 votes; Ward 1 where Nwoko allegedly scored 1,438 votes against Okowa’s 68 votes; Ward 10 where Nwoko had 940 votes against Okowa’s nine votes; Ward 9 where Nwoko polled 750 votes against Okowa’s 200 votes; and Ward 2 where Nwoko allegedly secured 251 votes against Okowa’s 56 votes.

In Oshimili South, the stakeholders claimed that Ward 3 recorded 1,221 votes for Nwoko against Okowa’s 41 votes, while Ward 4 allegedly produced 1,465 votes for Nwoko and 59 votes for Okowa.

They also cited Ward 6 where Nwoko reportedly polled 5,398 votes against Okowa’s 53 votes; Ward 8 where Nwoko allegedly secured 2,335 votes against Okowa’s 61 votes; Ward 7 where Nwoko polled 1,412 votes against Okowa’s 21 votes; and Ward 5 where Nwoko reportedly recorded 4,642 votes against Okowa’s 101 votes.

According to the stakeholders, Ward 1 in Oshimili South produced 500 votes for Nwoko against Okowa’s 115 votes, while Ward 9 allegedly recorded 3,679 votes for Nwoko against Okowa’s 49 votes.

They further claimed that Ward 10 gave Nwoko 1,234 votes against Okowa’s 99 votes, while Ward 2 recorded 1,551 votes for Nwoko against Okowa’s 103 votes, and Ward 11 allegedly produced 4,355 votes for Nwoko against Okowa’s 54 votes.

The stakeholders also referenced Ndokwa West Ward 8, where they said Nwoko secured 14 votes.

“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 stakeholders stated.

The group further alleged that the primaries were marred by intimidation and violence in areas where support for Nwoko was strongest.

According to the statement, in Ward 9, Obiaruku in Ukwuani Local Government Area, a party member identified as Igelige Chukunomnazu recounted how voters were allegedly coerced, counting processes manipulated and supporters of Nwoko attacked during the exercise.

The stakeholders said Chukunomnazu and others allegedly sustained injuries and were taken to hospital.

Similarly, in Ward 8, Aniocha North Local Government Area, an individual identified simply as Ernest was reportedly stabbed during the exercise.

The stakeholders claimed that video and photographic evidence of the incident were available.

They further alleged that violence escalated in Ward 3 at Anishi Primary School to the extent that the returning officer fled the venue for safety.

Describing the incidents as “coordinated attempts to suppress genuine voter expression,” the stakeholders called on the APC National Committee to intervene decisively.

“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 added.

They urged the National Committee to disregard what they termed “manufactured narratives” and ensure that the final declaration reflected “the true outcome as expressed across the wards.”

“For us in Delta North, the result is already evident. What remains is for the party to uphold its own rules and formally affirm the will of the people,” the stakeholders said.