By David Odama

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State, Chief Mrs. Grace Akwaba, has warned that the party may win fewer than seven seats in the State House of Assembly if what she described as imposition of candidates continues.

Akwaba urged Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to address what she called the concentration of political influence in the hands of a few individuals, saying such practices could weaken the party’s electoral chances.

In a statement, she alleged that a political figure identified as “Mugabe” had been exercising significant influence over appointments and candidate selection processes in the state.

She claimed that several political decisions, including nominations for elective offices, were being determined by personal loyalty rather than grassroots support.

“If the current political strategy continues, the APC could struggle to secure a strong presence in the Delta State House of Assembly, and may win fewer than seven seats,” she warned.

Akwaba also alleged that some recommendations and local political realities were ignored in favour of preferred candidates, creating dissatisfaction among party members, particularly in Delta North.

She argued that the situation had left many stakeholders feeling sidelined within the party structure.

The APC chieftain further recalled a previous political decision where an appointee was reportedly asked to resign over concerns about family members holding multiple positions, questioning why similar standards were not being applied consistently.

She urged the governor to broaden the party’s political base and strengthen internal unity by engaging different blocs within the APC rather than relying on a narrow circle of allies.

Akwaba also called for greater collaboration with stakeholders in Delta North, particularly Senator Ned Nwoko, saying such cooperation would improve the party’s prospects ahead of future elections.

The remarks reflect ongoing tensions within the Delta APC over candidate selection and internal party cohesion as political realignments continue in the state.