Delta APC chieftain urges Tinubu to protect party from ‘Infiltration, Sabotage’

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 what he described as attempts to infiltrate and sabotage the party in Delta North Senatorial District.

Eboh made the appeal amid the controversy surrounding the recently conducted APC Delta North Senatorial primary, in which former Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, was declared winner. However, the incumbent senator representing Delta North, Senator Ned Nwoko, has rejected the outcome, alleging that the process was manipulated in favour of the former governor.

In a statement titled, “Why Ned? Loyalty, Sacrifice, Fairness, and the Curious Case of Being Singled Out,” Eboh urged President Tinubu, as leader of the APC, to safeguard the integrity of the party and ensure that commitments made to loyal members are respected.

According to him, political parties thrive on trust, confidence and the assurance that agreements and promises will be honoured.

“Once that confidence begins to diminish, the consequences are often felt far beyond a single election cycle,” he said.

Eboh argued that Senator Nwoko played a pivotal role in the 2023 elections, describing him as one of the key figures behind the electoral victories recorded during the period despite the dominance of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State.

He recalled that while Delta was largely a PDP stronghold and a major base for the presidential campaign of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Nwoko worked vigorously to secure Delta North for the APC against the growing influence of the Labour Party.

According to Eboh, Nwoko was actively involved in mobilising support across various sectors, including educational institutions, youth groups and the entertainment industry, alongside actress Regina Daniels.

He further alleged that tensions between Nwoko and the political establishment in Delta State began after the elections, citing disagreements over governance, political appointments and the distribution of party structures.

Eboh claimed that Nwoko’s refusal to endorse the administration of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori during the early months of the government marked a turning point in his relationship with influential figures within the state’s political hierarchy.

“From that point onward, Ned was labelled an outsider within the government structure. Appointments were made without his input, local government elections were conducted without involving him, and he was effectively sidelined politically,” he alleged.

The APC chieftain said Nwoko eventually left the PDP for the APC after extensive consultations with the party’s national leadership, adding that he was allegedly given assurances regarding his political future.

However, he expressed concern that the entry of former PDP leaders into the APC had recreated the same political challenges Nwoko sought to escape.

According to Eboh, many supporters of the senator believe there are attempts to weaken his position within the APC and deny him the opportunity to return to the Senate.

He also questioned the handling of the matter by the APC National Working Committee (NWC) under its current leadership, urging the party to uphold agreements reached with Nwoko at the time of his defection.

Eboh further argued that major decisions within the party should align with President Tinubu’s anti-corruption agenda, stressing the need for accountability and transparency in the APC’s internal processes.

He maintained that party faithful across Delta North are concerned about developments surrounding the senatorial primary and appealed to the President to intervene.

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

He reaffirmed his commitment to President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and called for measures that would strengthen trust, fairness and unity within the ruling party.

The post Delta APC chieftain urges Tinubu to protect party from ‘Infiltration, Sabotage’ appeared first on Vanguard News.