Senator Ned Nwoko has claimed victory in the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primary for Delta North, insisting that results from across the district showed he overwhelmingly defeated former Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa.

The claim followed growing controversy over the outcome of the APC primary election, with both camps laying claim to victory ahead of the official declaration by the party’s national leadership.

Stakeholders loyal to Nwoko, in a statement by Engr. Emma Eboh rejected what they described as Okowa’s “self-imposed and propagandist declaration of victory,” arguing that the former governor acted contrary to laid-down party procedures.

According to the stakeholders, the APC had established a clear process for collating and announcing results, including ward collation, local government area collation, designated constituency collation centres, and final submission to the party’s 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 group maintained that results obtained from several wards across Delta North indicated a commanding lead for Nwoko. In Ward 7, Ndokwa West, Nwoko reportedly polled 1,281 votes against Okowa’s 26 votes, while Ward 9, Abbi in Ndokwa West allegedly produced 1,505 votes for Nwoko and 420 for Okowa.

At Ward 7, Akumazi, Nwoko was said to have scored 687 votes against Okowa’s five votes, while Ward 13, Ute Ogbeje in Ika North East reportedly recorded 415 votes for Nwoko and 13 for Okowa.

The stakeholders also cited results from Ukwuani and Oshimili South local government areas, where Nwoko was said to have secured decisive victories across multiple wards.

According to the figures released by Nwoko ‘s media office, Oshimili South Ward 6 recorded 5,398 votes for Nwoko against 53 for Okowa, while Ward 5 allegedly produced 4,642 votes for Nwoko and 101 for Okowa.

Ward 11 of the same local government reportedly gave Nwoko 4,355 votes against Okowa’s 54 votes.

The stakeholders argued that the trend across the district reflected the will of party members in favour of Nwoko.

“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 statement added.

They also alleged that the primary election was marred by intimidation and violence in some areas believed to be strongholds of Nwoko.

In Obiaruku, Ukwuani LGA, supporters of Nwoko alleged that voters were intimidated and attacked during the exercise, while in Aniocha North LGA, an individual identified as Ernest was reportedly stabbed during the process.

The stakeholders called on the APC National Committee to ensure that the final declaration reflected what they described as the true outcome of the primary election.

“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 statement concluded. (The Guardian)

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