…Warns against sidelining Nwoko after alleged primary election controversy

By Henry Umoru

ABUJA — A former Delta State Commissioner and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Emmanuel Eboh, has called on President Bola Tinubu to urgently intervene in the affairs of the party in Delta North, warning against what he described as infiltration and sabotage capable of undermining the APC’s integrity in the district.

Eboh’s appeal follows the controversy surrounding the recently conducted APC senatorial primary for Delta North, in which former Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, emerged winner. Senator Ned Nwoko, who currently represents Delta North in the Senate, has rejected the outcome, alleging that the process was manipulated and insisting that he won the primary.

In a statement titled “Why Ned? Loyalty, Sacrifice, Fairness, and the Curious Case of Being Singled Out,” Eboh argued that political parties thrive on trust, confidence and the fulfilment of commitments made to members.

According to him, Senator Nwoko played a significant role in the 2023 elections, helping to secure electoral victories in Delta North despite the political challenges posed by the Labour Party’s popularity across the state.

Eboh claimed that Nwoko actively campaigned across Delta State and beyond, engaging students, youth groups and other stakeholders, while contributing to the political success of key candidates during the elections.

He further alleged that Nwoko later became politically isolated within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after refusing to endorse the performance of the then state administration during an early caucus meeting.

According to him, subsequent appointments, local government structures and party activities in Delta North were allegedly carried out without Nwoko’s involvement, prompting his eventual defection to the APC after consultations with the party’s national leadership.

Eboh expressed concern that Nwoko was now facing similar political challenges within the APC following the entry of former PDP leaders into the ruling party.

He questioned the handling of the Delta North senatorial primary by the APC leadership and urged the party’s National Working Committee to respect agreements and understandings that, according to him, accompanied Nwoko’s entry into the party.

The APC chieftain also argued that party decisions should align with President Tinubu’s anti-corruption agenda, stressing that internal processes must reflect the principles of accountability and transparency being promoted by the administration.

He warned that failure to honour commitments and address concerns raised by party members could erode confidence in the APC and have broader political consequences.

Eboh therefore urged President Tinubu, as leader of the party, to protect the APC from what he described as infiltration and sabotage and ensure fairness in the party’s affairs.

“The President must rise to the occasion and protect the integrity of the party. The good people of Delta North do not want to have a reason to ask, ‘Why Ned?’,” he stated.

He reaffirmed his support for the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda and called for greater institutional credibility within the party.