Senator Ned Nwoko has launched a strong criticism of the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing the ruling party of reneging on promises made to him before his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Nwoko, who currently represents Delta North Senatorial District in the National Assembly, alleged that he was assured of an automatic senatorial ticket by the APC leadership as part of negotiations that led to his defection to the party in early 2025.
The lawmaker made the claims during an interview on Arise Television, where he expressed disappointment over what he described as betrayal and political manipulation within the APC.
Nwoko had left the PDP amid crises and factional disputes within the opposition party in Delta State. At the time of his defection, he cited unresolved divisions and the inability of the PDP leadership to maintain unity among members as reasons for abandoning the party.
Speaking during the interview, the senator revealed that before officially joining the APC, he held strategic discussions with key leaders of the ruling party, including the then National Chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Ganduje.
According to Nwoko, the meeting was aimed at convincing him to cross over to the APC, with assurances allegedly given regarding his political future within the party.
He claimed that Ganduje personally promised him an automatic ticket for the Delta North senatorial seat ahead of the 2027 general elections as part of the agreement that facilitated his defection.
The senator explained that he relied on those assurances and decided to join the APC in what many political observers described at the time as a major political realignment in Delta State.
However, Nwoko said he was shocked by the turn of events that followed months later after former Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, also defected from the PDP to the APC.
According to him, the political calculations within the party suddenly changed after Okowa’s arrival, leading to what he described as preferential treatment for the former governor.
Nwoko alleged that despite the earlier agreement reached with the APC leadership, the party eventually shifted support to Okowa, who later emerged victorious in the APC Delta North Senatorial Primary.
The senator claimed the process leading to the primary election was heavily manipulated in favour of the former governor.
During the APC Delta North primary election, Okowa secured a landslide victory after polling 113,309 votes, while Nwoko received only 2,612 votes.
The overwhelming margin of victory immediately sparked controversy within the party, with Nwoko and his supporters rejecting the outcome of the exercise.
The senator insisted that the results did not reflect the true wishes of party members and supporters across the senatorial district.
He alleged that the primary election was compromised and carefully orchestrated to ensure Okowa emerged as the party’s candidate regardless of opposition from other aspirants.
Nwoko further argued that the APC leadership failed to uphold the commitments made to him during negotiations preceding his defection.
According to him, the development raised serious concerns about internal democracy, transparency and fairness within the ruling party.
Political observers believe the dispute could further deepen tensions within the APC in Delta State ahead of the 2027 elections, especially considering the influence both Nwoko and Okowa command in the region.
Nwoko has remained one of the prominent political figures in Delta North, while Okowa, a former governor and former vice-presidential candidate of the PDP, also retains significant political structures and loyalists across the state.
The senator’s public criticism of the APC leadership has already generated reactions among party supporters and political stakeholders, with some describing the development as a reflection of growing internal rivalries within the party.
Others, however, believe the disagreement may have been triggered by the influx of powerful political actors into the APC ahead of the next election cycle, resulting in fierce competition over party tickets and control of political structures.
Despite his grievances, Nwoko did not indicate whether he intends to challenge the outcome of the primary election in court or reconsider his future within the APC.
The controversy surrounding the Delta North APC primary adds to the broader political realignments currently taking place across several states as politicians position themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Analysts say the battle for party structures and tickets is expected to intensify in the coming months, particularly in states like Delta where defections and shifting alliances continue to reshape the political landscape.
For now, Senator Nwoko maintains that he was unfairly treated by the APC leadership and insists the process that produced Okowa as the party’s senatorial candidate lacked credibility.
The development is likely to remain a major talking point in Delta politics as both camps continue to mobilise supporters ahead of the next phase of political activities leading to the general elections.
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