A new division has surfaced within the All Progressives Congress(APC) in Delta State as Senator Ned Nwoko and Deputy Governor Monday Onyeme clash over who should be the party’s leader in the Delta North Senatorial District.
The power struggle grew more intense before a crucial APC Delta North meeting at Nwoko’s home on June 14 as Onyeme questioned Nwoko’s claim to the party’s leadership in the area. Nwoko, who left the Peoples Democratic Party earlier this year, is regarded by some APC stakeholders
However, Onyeme, who hails from the same district, has retorted that the deputy governor has historically held the position of political convener.
Onyeme supported his assertion with precedents from earlier administrations in a social media post by his press secretary, Mr. Fidelis Egugbo.
He wrote “Deputy Governor traditionally played a central role in convening political meetings in the district,” the statement said. “So, Sir Monday Onyeme should now assume a similar unifying role within the APC and propose a private meeting with Senator Nwoko to prevent factionalism.”
Egugbo stated how political gatherings in Delta North were frequently hosted in the Obior residence of Chief Benjamin Elue, the deputy governor at the time, under Chief James Ibori’s leadership.
According to reports, the late Prof. Amos Utuama carried on the tradition under previous Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan.
However, Nwoko’s faction isn’t in agreement. “Senator Nwoko is the high-ranking officer in Delta North, and by the party rules, he remains the Delta North leader of the party,” a top APC chieftain, told newsmen on Thursday. “Is Onyeme Delta North’s deputy governor? How is it possible for him to be our district’s party leader?” he queried.
Amidst the internal political uproar, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has defended the larger political realignment that saw him and other former PDP stalwarts switch to the APC, claiming the decision was made to reposition Delta State for growth ahead of the 2027 elections.
Speaking through the Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads), Mr Charles Aniagwu, the governor said, “Our desire is not to kill PDP but to move Delta forward, and so we changed our drinking pattern. It was obvious that PDP won’t make headway in the forthcoming 2027 election, and so the need to move to the APC.”
As of the time of report, calls and messages to Senator Nwoko’s phone were left unanswered returned.
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