The crisis rocking the Delta North Senatorial District after the primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) deepened on Tuesday as supporters of Senator Ned Nwoko openly rejected the outcome of the May 18, exercise, describing it as “a charade” riddled with manipulation, intimidation and vote buying.
In a strongly worded press statement signed by Chris Okobah, the camp accused powerful forces within the state of hijacking the democratic process to suppress what they described as the genuine will of delegates across the senatorial district.
According to the statement, Senator Ned Nwoko allegedly won the primary overwhelmingly with 123,000 votes, while former Delta State Deputy Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, reportedly secured about 5,000 votes.
The group claimed to possess video evidence, ward-level records and agents’ reports to back its position, insisting that the result being circulated by party officials and state actors did not reflect the true outcome of the exercise.
“The senatorial primary election held on the 18th of May 2026 cannot, by any honest standard, be described as free, fair, credible or transparent,” the statement declared.
The camp further alleged that the manipulation started long before voting commenced, claiming that electoral panel members were allegedly kept in government VIP lodges and influenced by powerful political interests linked to the state government.
It also accused some returning officers of being politically connected appointees who never appeared at several voting venues, while violence and disruption were allegedly deployed when delegates turned out massively to vote.
“There was no proper accreditation. There was no transparent voting. There was no honest counting. There was no genuine collation,” the statement alleged.
The group further accused unnamed political actors of engaging in vote buying, intimidation of party members and inducement of delegates, claiming money was distributed to influence the process.
Describing the declared outcome as “morally defective and democratically worthless,” the camp maintained that no “manufactured result” could stand against what it called overwhelming field evidence and testimony from party members across the district.
In one of the strongest lines of the statement, the group warned against what it described as the privatization of democracy by political godfathers.
“Democracy is not the private property of any governor. It is not the inheritance of political godfathers. It is not a weapon to be used against the people,” the statement read.
The camp insisted that Senator Ned Nwoko remains “the clear choice of the people” and demanded a full review of the primary process, cancellation of all “manipulated results,” and accountability for everyone allegedly involved in compromising the election.
Ending on an emotional note, the statement declared: “Aniocha deserves democracy, not deception., Anioma deserves justice, not intimidation., Anioma deserves truth, not political robbery.”
The controversy is expected to further heighten tensions within the APC in Delta State as party stakeholders await possible official reactions and next political moves from the aggrieved camp.
