Nwoko calls on APC to dismiss fabricated outcome, safeguard Delta North's rightful victory

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By Joseph Erunke, Abuja

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Senator Ned Nwoko has called on the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress, APC, to safeguard what he described as the overwhelming mandate freely given to him by party members in the Delta North Senatorial District, warning against any attempt to alter the outcome of the party’s senatorial primary election.

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Nwoko, in a statement issued by his Media Office in Abuja, insisted that he emerged victorious in the primary by a landslide, claiming to have secured about 123,000 votes against the 6,000 votes he said were recorded by former Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa.

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The senator maintained that he won in 97 of the 98 wards across the senatorial district and challenged anyone disputing the outcome to examine what he described as extensive video evidence from the exercise.

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According to him, any effort to overturn the result would amount to a direct assault on the democratic wishes of APC members who participated in the primary.

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“Subverting the mandate freely given by APC members who turned out in large numbers to participate in the primaries would amount to an abuse of their wishes and sensibilities. Such an action could undermine the confidence of party members and supporters who believe in the democratic process,” Nwoko said.

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The lawmaker urged the APC National Working Committee (NWC) and the party’s national leadership to ensure that the integrity of the primary process is protected and that the final outcome reflects the votes cast by members across Delta North.

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He questioned the credibility of alternative figures being circulated, arguing that authenticated video recordings from the wards where voting took place should carry more weight than what he described as “concocted figures” allegedly being promoted by political opponents.

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“I defeated Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa overwhelmingly in 97 of the 98 wards, and I have video evidence from across the district to support the outcome. Are authenticated video recordings from 98 wards not more credible than figures allegedly concocted by a panel appointed by the governor who is openly working for Okowa?” he asked.

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Nwoko further warned that disregarding the outcome of the primary could have serious political consequences for the APC in Delta North, stressing that party members must be assured that their votes count.

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“The future of our party in Delta North depends on the confidence of our members that their votes count and that their voices will not be silenced by political manipulation. I trust the National Leadership of our great party to uphold the truth, protect the democratic process, and affirm the mandate freely given to me by APC members across Delta North,” he said.

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The senator attributed the support he received during the primary to his legislative record and his advocacy for the creation of Anioma State, which he said has resonated strongly with constituents across the district.

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He also highlighted his longstanding loyalty to the APC, noting that he joined and worked for the party before the defection of former Governor Okowa and other political figures from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

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Nwoko, however, rejected what he termed a “self-imposed and propagandist declaration of victory” by Okowa, arguing that such a move runs contrary to established APC procedures.

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He recalled that the APC National Organising Secretary had outlined a clear process for the collation and declaration of primary election results, including ward, local government and constituency collation before final submission to the party’s national headquarters.

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“The authority to collate, authenticate, and declare the results of the primary election rests solely with the appropriate organs of the APC National Leadership. Any premature declaration of victory is contrary to party guidelines and amounts to an attempt to influence public perception ahead of the completion of due process,” Nwoko stated.

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The senator appealed to the APC leadership to uphold the party’s internal democratic principles by ensuring that the final declaration accurately reflects the choice made by party members across Delta North.

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