Delta North APC Primary: Nwoko Insists He Won Overwhelmingly, Urges Party Leadership to Protect Members’ Mandate
By Phillips Omoru
E-ISSN: 2354-4481
Senator Ned Nwoko has called on the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to uphold what he described as the clear mandate given to him by party members in Delta North Senatorial District, insisting that he recorded a landslide victory over former Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, in the party’s senatorial primary election.
In a statement released by his Media Office in Abuja, Nwoko appealed to the APC National Working Committee and other key party leaders to resist any attempt to alter the outcome of the primary election, warning that doing so could undermine the confidence of party faithful in the democratic process.
The senator maintained that he secured a decisive victory across the district, claiming to have won in 97 of the 98 wards that participated in the exercise. According to him, the results reflected the overwhelming support of APC members, who voted massively in his favour during the primary election.
Nwoko stated that he garnered approximately 123,000 votes, while his closest rival, Dr. Okowa, recorded about 6,000 votes. He argued that any move to overturn the outcome would amount to disregarding the collective will of party members who freely participated in the process.
He stressed that respecting the wishes of party members is essential to preserving internal democracy and maintaining the trust of APC supporters ahead of future electoral contests.
“Any attempt to subvert the mandate freely given by APC members who came out in large numbers to participate in the primaries would amount to a violation of their wishes and democratic rights. Such an action could weaken confidence in the party and its commitment to fairness,” he stated.
Nwoko further asserted that the outcome of the election can be independently verified through extensive video recordings obtained from polling locations across the senatorial district.
According to him, the visual evidence from the wards provides a more credible account of the exercise than figures allegedly produced by individuals with vested interests in the outcome of the contest.
“I defeated Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa convincingly in 97 out of the 98 wards, and I have video evidence from across Delta North to support the result. These authenticated recordings are far more credible than figures allegedly manufactured by a panel appointed by a governor openly aligned with my opponent,” he said.
The lawmaker urged the APC leadership to ensure that justice prevails by safeguarding the integrity of the primary election process and respecting the verdict delivered by party members at the grassroots.
Nwoko also dismissed what he described as a premature declaration of victory by Okowa, arguing that such actions run contrary to established party procedures and guidelines.
He recalled that the APC National Organising Secretary had clearly outlined the official process for collation and announcement of results, which includes ward-level collation, local government collation, constituency collation, and final submission to the party’s national headquarters.
According to him, only the designated organs of the APC National Leadership possess the authority to collate, authenticate, and officially declare the outcome of the primary election.
“The responsibility for announcing the final result rests solely with the appropriate organs of the party. Any self-declaration of victory before the completion of due process is inconsistent with APC guidelines and appears aimed at shaping public perception ahead of the official announcement,” he added.
Nwoko further attributed the support he received from APC members to his legislative performance and commitment to advancing the interests of Delta North, particularly his advocacy for the creation of Anioma State.
He also highlighted his longstanding loyalty to the APC, noting that he joined and worked for the party long before the recent defection of Okowa and several other political actors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Expressing confidence in the party’s leadership, the senator said he believes the APC will ultimately uphold the truth and ensure that the outcome reflects the genuine choice of its members across Delta North.
“The future strength of the party in Delta North depends on members having confidence that their votes matter and that their voices cannot be overridden by political manipulation. I trust the National Leadership of our great party to protect the democratic process and affirm the mandate freely given to me by APC members,” he concluded.
