The Delta State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has strongly refuted a report published by The Guardian newspaper alleging that violence disrupted its Delta Central Senatorial District stakeholders' meeting, describing the publication as "false, malicious, misleading and sensational," and demanding an immediate retraction and apology within seven days.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by the State Publicity Secretary, Valentine Onojeghuo, Esq., the party insisted that the stakeholders' meeting, held on Sunday at the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI) Conference Centre, Effurun, was conducted peacefully from start to finish without any incident of violence or disruption.
"The attention of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Delta State, has been drawn to a publication by The Guardian newspaper titled *'Violence Rocks Delta APC Leaders' Meeting'. We reject the publication in its entirety as a reckless, false, malicious, and sensational distortion of the events that transpired during the Delta Central Senatorial District stakeholders' meeting," the statement read.
The party maintained that the meeting was "successfully convened, well attended by party leaders and stakeholders, broadcast live on television by Arise TV and TVC News, and concluded peacefully without any incidents of violence, disruption, or the imaginary scenes of panic and disorder painted by the reporter."
According to the APC, "At no point did the meeting degenerate into the chaos, free-for-all, or mass exodus falsely reported by The Guardian. The proceedings remain matters of public record and can easily be verified by reviewing the live broadcast and speaking with the numerous accredited attendees who witnessed the meeting from commencement to conclusion."
Addressing the video referenced in the newspaper's report, the party argued that the footage did not originate from the venue where the stakeholders' meeting was held.
"It is particularly instructive to state that the scenes contained in the video relied upon by the reporter did not emanate from the main Conference Hall, which was the venue of the hugely successful stakeholders' meeting, but from a distant location far removed from it, within the expansive PTI Conference Centre," the statement said.
The APC described the attempt to associate the footage with its meeting as "misleading, irresponsible and far short of the ethical standards expected of a reputable media organization."
The party further accused The Guardian of abandoning basic journalistic principles, alleging that the report lacked balance, fairness, accuracy and proper verification.
"It is astonishing that a media organization of The Guardian's pedigree would permit such an unsubstantiated and poorly researched report to find its way into publication. The publication is nothing short of a shoddy piece of journalism, devoid of the elementary principles of balance, fairness, accuracy and verification that define responsible reporting," the APC stated.
"Rather than conduct even the most basic investigation into the facts, the reporter apparently relied on speculation, hearsay, or preconceived conclusions in a desperate bid to manufacture a sensational headline capable of misleading the public."
The ruling party also dismissed suggestions in the report that there were rival factions or leadership struggles within the Delta State APC, insisting that the party remains united under a single, duly recognized executive.
"We are equally disturbed by the reporter's baseless attempt to create the false impression that there are 'rival factions' or internal leadership struggles within the Delta State APC. Nothing could be further from the truth," the statement declared.
According to the party, its congresses were conducted in accordance with the party's constitution and guidelines approved by the National Working Committee, producing "the one and only duly recognized State Executive Committee under the able chairmanship of Chief Solomon Arenyeka, JP," which it said had since been ratified at the party's National Convention.
The APC also pointed to what it described as a major factual error in the report, noting that it wrongly identified Mr. Sylvester Imonina as the party's State Publicity Secretary.
"Mr. Imonina ceased to occupy that office in 2023. Since then, I have served as the duly appointed and recognized State Publicity Secretary of the Delta State APC," Onojeghuo said, arguing that the mistake called into question the credibility of the entire report.
The statement emphasized that "The Guardian owes its readers a duty to publish facts and not fiction," adding that journalism "must remain anchored in truth, fairness, and professional integrity."
While affirming its respect for press freedom, the APC argued that "Freedom of the press is not a license for reckless reporting, character assassination, or the deliberate dissemination of falsehoods."
Consequently, the party demanded that The Guardian "immediately retract the said publication and publish an unequivocal and unreserved apology to the All Progressives Congress, Delta State, and its members within seven (7) days."
It warned that failure to comply would compel the party to "instruct our legal team to pursue all appropriate legal remedies available under the law to protect its reputation against this defamatory publication."
The APC further urged media practitioners to uphold the highest standards of professional journalism by ensuring every report is properly verified, balanced and factually accurate before publication.
"The race to break the news must never supersede the duty to report the truth," the statement stressed.
Reaffirming its political focus, the Delta APC said it remains committed to strengthening internal cohesion and expanding its support base across the state while working with Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to advance President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda.
"Delta State APC remains focused on consolidating its growing support across the state, strengthening internal cohesion, and working in concert with the leader of the party, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Elder Sheriff Oborevwori, to advance the Renewed Hope Agenda... We shall not be distracted by fabricated reports designed to sow seeds of discord or diminish the remarkable progress being recorded within our party."
The party advised members of the public to disregard the publication, insisting that it "does not represent the true events of the Delta Central APC stakeholders' meeting but rather a regrettable exercise in sensational journalism."
