The Delta State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has cautioned Ogharefe Council of Chiefs and Elders (Oguedion R’Ogharefe), against descending to the arena of politics, dismissing claims of violence and disorder during the Ethiope West Local Government Congress held on February 21, 2026, and describing the Council’s statement as “misleading, politically ill-motivated and deliberately distorted.”
In a statement signed by its State Publicity Secretary, Valentine Onojeghuo Esq., the party “categorically rejects and condemns” the Council’s characterisation of the congress, insisting that “for the avoidance of doubt, the Ethiope West Congress was peaceful, orderly and conducted strictly in accordance with the Constitution and guidelines of our great party as approved by the National Working Committee.”
The APC further stated that the exercise “was duly monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and at no time was there any officially reported violence, organized attack, or breakdown of law and order attributable to the APC.” It described the Council’s depiction of the congress as a “near-war situation” as “nothing short of political fiction and jaundiced imagination,” adding that “such reckless exaggeration is clearly designed to malign the image of our party and create unnecessary panic.”
Addressing concerns about the venue, the party emphasised its autonomy, declaring: “Let it be unequivocally stated: the APC, as a constitutionally recognized political party in Nigeria, retains the exclusive right to determine the venue, structure and procedures of its internal activities.” It explained that “the decision to hold the congress at Ovade Community in Oghara was taken by the appropriate party organs based on administrative, logistical and security considerations,” stressing that “no external body – traditional or otherwise – has the authority to dictate, question, or veto internal party decisions.”
The APC also rejected allegations of exclusion and violence, stating that “internal party congresses are not town hall meetings or community assemblies subject to external approval,” but “structured administrative processes governed strictly by party rules.” It maintained that “Delta State APC does not condone violence in any form” and that “no directive was issued to deny any legitimate member participation, aside from the standard accreditation requirements applicable to all delegates.”
According to the statement, “the distortion of the refusal of some members of the party to comply with routine procedural accreditation, into allegations of systemic exclusion exposes the weakness of the claims being advanced as self-serving.”
In a strongly worded passage, the party questioned the neutrality of the Council, noting “the unmistakable partisan undertone of the Council’s statement.” It argued that “the tone, timing and content strongly suggest that the Ogharefe Council of Chiefs and Elders has allowed itself to be drawn into the murky waters of partisan politics,” adding that the statement “raises serious questions as to whether the Council’s present actions are not being teleguided or motivated by pecuniary benefits at the behest of third parties.”
The APC warned that “if traditional institutions allow themselves to become instruments in partisan struggles for financial or political gain… they risk eroding the moral authority and neutrality that give them relevance and respect in the first place,” stressing that it “will not hesitate to call out such overreach.”
The party also criticised the absence of formal complaints, describing it as “particularly instructive that no formal complaint was lodged through the party’s constitutionally established dispute resolution mechanisms before resorting to public dramatization.” It asserted that “responsible stakeholders pursue grievances through lawful channels – not through inflammatory press statements.”
While reaffirming its regard for traditional institutions, the APC maintained that “respect is mutual,” adding that “political party administration is not within the jurisdiction of traditional councils.” It cautioned that “any continued interference in internal party matters will be viewed for what it is – unwarranted intrusion into constitutionally protected political processes.”
Urging calm, the party called on the public “to see through the attempt to manufacture crisis where none exists,” reiterating that it “remains united, disciplined and committed to strengthening its grassroots structures without intimidation, blackmail or external pressure.”
“We remain steadfast in our commitment to internal democracy, rule of law, peaceful political engagement, and responsible leadership,” the statement concluded. “No amount of politically motivated misrepresentation will derail our focus.”
