The Delta State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has queried procedural irregularities in the submission of the party's reconciliation report by Chief Paulinus Akpeki, the Delta Central Senatorial District Chairman.
In a strongly worded letter to the APC National Chairman, the Delta State Secretary and Deputy Chairman described the submission of the report as unauthorized, incomplete, and procedurally flawed.
The document, titled "Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, OON-Led Reconciliation Committee Report," was allegedly submitted on December 8, 2024, by Akpeki without approval from the State Working Committee (SWC), State Executive Committee (SEC), or relevant party caucuses.
“Our attention has been drawn to the submission of the document by Chief Paulinus Akpeki,” the letter stated. Signed by Surv. Peter Akarogbe, the State Secretary, and Chief Francis Obigbor, the Deputy State Chairman, the letter emphasized that the report bypassed critical party procedures.
The letter outlined that the report was incomplete and had not undergone deliberations by relevant state party organs. According to the leadership, the "Way Forward and Report Implementation" section of the report stipulated the necessary steps for its adoption, including signing by the committee chairman, secretary, and members, presentation to the SWC for adoption, and endorsements from key party leaders such as the State Chairman, State Secretary, current senators, and other stakeholders. These steps, they argued, were deliberately ignored by Akpeki.
The party officials also pointed out procedural irregularities in the initial submission of the report on November 29, 2024. It stated that the report was presented to an improperly constituted body and that Akpeki, as Delta Central Senatorial District Chairman, had no constitutional authority to preside over the session, especially in the presence of the Deputy State Chairman. Articles 12:4 and 12:11 of the APC Constitution (2022, as amended) were cited to underline this procedural violation, rendering the submission invalid.
They described Akpeki’s actions as overreach, stating, “Assuming without conceding that the report was properly presented, it is still a document going through the process of consideration before Chief Paulinus Akpeki jumped the gun and, without authority, proceeded to submit it to the National Chairman.”
Additionally, the letter revealed that key party officials, including the State Chairman and State Secretary, had not signed or endorsed the document, further discrediting its legitimacy.
The Delta APC leadership called on the National Chairman and other officers to disregard the document, insisting it does not reflect the collective opinion or resolve of APC members in Delta State. “We urge that no recognition whatsoever be given to the document, which is yet to be considered by the SWC in a properly constituted meeting,” the letter stated.
The reconciliation report, chaired by Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, was originally intended to address internal party disputes and foster unity within the Delta APC. However, Akpeki’s unilateral actions have undermined the reconciliation process and raised concerns over the integrity of the exercise.
The letter concluded with a firm call for adherence to party protocols. “We must adhere strictly to party protocols to maintain the integrity of our processes,” the leaders emphasized.
