Fresh controversy has continued to surround the Delta North Senatorial primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC), following allegations of irregularities and conflicting claims over the outcome of the exercise conducted across the district’s 98 wards.
Results announced after the primaries held on May 18, 2026, reportedly indicated that former Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, secured 113,309 votes, while incumbent Senator Ned Nwoko polled 2,613 votes. Another aspirant, Maryam Alli, was credited with 40 votes.
However, the declared figures have come under scrutiny following the emergence of video recordings released by Senator Nwoko’s media team and circulated on his official social media platforms.
The videos, which showed party members voting, celebrating and openly expressing support for the incumbent senator in several wards across the senatorial district, have sparked debate among party stakeholders and supporters over the credibility of the announced results.
Observers and supporters of Senator Nwoko have questioned the wide margin reflected in the official figures, arguing that the scenes captured in multiple locations appeared inconsistent with the outcome announced by returning officers.
Amid the growing controversy, Senator Nwoko, in a statement issued on June 7, 2026, titled “Delta North APC Primaries: The Will of the People Cannot Be Overruled,” insisted that the figures released did not accurately reflect the votes cast during the exercise.
“No individual declaration, announcement, or political maneuver can substitute for the lawful votes cast by accredited voters,” the senator stated.
He emphasized that democratic processes must be anchored on transparency, due process, and respect for the wishes of party members, while expressing confidence that the party’s internal mechanisms would address the concerns raised.
“My commitment has always been to the people of Delta North, whose overwhelming support continues to inspire our movement for progress, justice, and inclusive development,” he said.
The lawmaker also appealed to his supporters to remain peaceful and law-abiding as the process unfolds.
“The mandate freely given by the people of Delta North is sacred, and together we will protect it,” he added.
Speaking further during an interview, Senator Nwoko maintained that the announced figures did not reflect the actual voting pattern across the district, insisting that evidence from various polling centres suggested a different outcome.
Supporters of the senator have pointed to several videos circulating online, particularly from communities within Ika North East Local Government Area, traditionally regarded as a strong political base of his principal challenger, where party members were seen celebrating and chanting support slogans in favour of Nwoko.
According to them, the recordings suggest that the incumbent senator enjoyed substantial support across multiple wards, including areas outside his traditional political strongholds.
Defending his stewardship at the National Assembly, Nwoko argued that he had consistently championed the interests of the Anioma people through legislative advocacy and constituency engagement.
“I speak for the people all the time. The people of Anioma know who I am. I know them and I know their problems. These are things I’ve been addressing in the National Assembly,” he stated.
Also reacting to the controversy during an interview on TVC News, Nwoko’s legal counsel, Barrister Anthony Ogana, questioned the validity of the declared results, citing video evidence from several communities.
“The videos showed that Ned won even in the stronghold of our major challenger,” Ogana claimed.
The lawyer further argued that the authority to formally ratify and announce the final outcome of the primary election rests with the national leadership of the APC.
“As I speak to you now, APC national has not given any senator a certificate of return. It has only given a certificate of return to the president,” he stated.
Ogana also alleged that certain political interests within the party were uncomfortable with Senator Nwoko’s advocacy for the creation of Anioma State, a cause he said continues to enjoy widespread support among the people of Delta North.
According to him, many constituents view the Anioma State campaign as a major developmental objective capable of addressing longstanding concerns relating to infrastructure, governance, and resource allocation within the region.
He cited the case of Okpai in Ndokwa East Local Government Area, which hosts major power infrastructure, yet, according to him, many communities within Anioma land continue to experience inadequate electricity supply.
“Election is about representation. Let our Anioma senator go back to the Senate and give us Anioma State. That’s what we are waiting for,” Ogana said.
As of the time of filing this report, the APC had not issued any official response to the allegations raised by Senator Nwoko and his supporters, while stakeholders continue to await clarification from the party’s national leadership regarding the disputed primary election outcome.
