APC leadership position: Delta deputy gov, Nwoko’s camps fight dirty

Nwoko

A fresh rift has emerged within the All Progressives Congress in Delta State, as Deputy Governor, Monday Onyeme, and Senator Ned Nwoko clash over who should lead the party in the Delta North Senatorial District.

The power tussle intensified ahead of a key APC Delta North meeting scheduled for June 14 at Nwoko’s residence, with Onyeme questioning Nwoko’s claim to the party’s leadership in the zone.

Nwoko, who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party earlier in the year, is seen by some APC stakeholders as the most senior party figure in Delta North.

But Onyeme, also from the same district, has countered that the role of political convener traditionally lies with the deputy governor.

In a social media post by his Press Secretary, Mr Fidelis Egugbo, Onyeme cited precedents from previous administrations to back his claim.

“Deputy Governor traditionally played a central role in convening political meetings in the district,” the statement said. “So, Sir Monday Onyeme should now assume a similar unifying role within the APC and propose a private meeting with Senator Nwoko to prevent factionalism.”

Egugbo referenced how, during Chief James Ibori’s tenure, political meetings in Delta North were routinely held at the Obior home of the then-deputy governor, Chief Benjamin Elue.The tradition reportedly continued under former Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan with the late Prof Amos Utuama.

But Nwoko’s camp disagrees. A senior APC chieftain, who preferred to remain anonymous, told The PUNCH on Thursday, “Senator Nwoko is the high-ranking officer in Delta North, and by the party rules, he remains the Delta North leader of the party. Is Onyeme the deputy governor of Delta North? How can he assume the party leader of our district?”

Efforts to reach Senator Nwoko for his reaction were unsuccessful, as calls and messages to his phone went unanswered as of press time.