Why Nwoko rejected Delta North APC primary result

Fresh facts have emerged on why Ned Nwoko, the incumbent senator representing the Delta North Senatorial District, rejected the result of the May 18, 2026, All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primary election.

The election was held across all the 98 wards of Delta North, with Ifeanyi Okowa, former Delta State Governor, polling 113,309 votes to emerge the winner, while Nwoko and Maryam Alli got 2,613 votes and 40 votes, respectively.

But videos from the voting exercise showed delegates celebrating, singing, and openly declaring support for Nwoko in several wards across the district.

This has generated debate over whether the declared results accurately reflected the voting pattern witnessed during the primaries, with Nwoko challenging the credibility of the results announced after the election.

Some observers and party stakeholders have also raised concerns that the figures were allegedly inconsistent with scenes from the election, particularly amid claims that no single aspirant could realistically dominate all 98 wards by such overwhelming margins.

Nwoko, in a statement issued on June 7, 2026, entitled “Delta North APC Primaries: The Will of the People Cannot Be Overruled”, maintained that the results did not represent the true outcome of the exercise.

“No individual declaration, announcement, or political manoeuvre can substitute for the lawful votes cast by accredited voters,” Nwoko stated.

He insisted that democracy must be anchored on transparency, due process and respect for the wishes of party members, expressing confidence that the APC’s internal mechanisms would ultimately ensure justice.

“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.

Nwoko called for calm among his supporters and appealed for patience as the party is concluding its review of the primary process.

“The mandate freely given by the people of Delta North is sacred, and together we will protect it,” he added.

Speaking further on the matter, the senator alleged that the figures released to the public had been misrepresented and failed to reflect the actual voting pattern recorded across the district.

His supporters point to numerous videos circulating online, which, they claim, showed him enjoying huge support in several wards, including communities within Okowa’s Ika North East Local Government Area.

In many of the clips, party members were seen chanting support songs, celebrating and declaring what appeared to be victories for the incumbent senator in their respective wards.

Defending his record in office, Nwoko argued that his performance and advocacy on behalf of the Anioma people have earned him enduring grassroots support.

“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 said.

Anthony Ogana, Nwoko’s counsel, who appeared on TVC News, argued that many of the videos originated from communities within Ika land yet reflected substantial support for the senator despite not being from the area.

“The videos showed that Ned won even in the stronghold of our major challenger,” Ogana said.

He maintained that the authority to ratify and formally declare the final outcome of the primary rests exclusively with the national leadership of the APC.

“As I speak to you now, the APC national has not given any senator a certificate of return. It has only given a certificate of return to the president,” he stated.

The lawyer also alleged that certain political interests within the state chapter of the party were uncomfortable with Nwoko’s sustained advocacy for the creation of Anioma State and were seeking to undermine his political future.

According to him, support for the senator across Delta North remains strong because of his commitment to regional development and the Anioma State project.

Questioning what he described as longstanding developmental disparities in the region, Ogana noted that despite Okpai in Ndokwa East hosting major power infrastructure that contributes significantly to Nigeria’s electricity supply, many communities across Anioma land continue to experience inadequate power 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 the controversy continues to unfold, attention is now focused on the APC national leadership and whether it will intervene to address the concerns raised over the conduct and outcome of the Delta North senatorial primary.