By Ovasa Ogaga,
The Delta State Working Committee (SWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has received the report of the party's Reconciliation Committee, chaired by founding leader, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, OON, at the APC state secretariat in Asaba, pledging to implement the recommendations to strengthen the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Presenting the report, Elder Godsday Orubebe, former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, who represented the chairman of the committee, Olorogun O'tega Emerhor, emphasized that the document includes strategies and actionable steps aimed at unifying the party and bolstering its prospects for electoral success in 2027.
Orubebe highlighted key recommendations, including the creation of a State Leadership Council. This proposed council, consisting of 40 leaders from the 25 Local Government Areas (LGAs), will include the immediate past governorship candidate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, and current Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Olorogun Festus Keyamo, as co-chairmen. It aims to bridge factional divides, working closely with the SWC to unify and advance the party.
Further recommendations outlined include: “Establishing Leadership Councils at the senatorial, LGA, and ward levels to unify the APC at grassroots levels.
“Decentralizing authority to empower leaders at various levels to oversee candidate nomination for Party Congresses, thereby avoiding the Hijack of Congresses by one leader or individual or group of individuals and thereafter, foisting such structures on the Party.
“Implementing a robust fundraising strategy to ensure collective financial responsibility for the party’s activities and not one-man sponsorship.”
The committee, inaugurated in September, had 21 members, of whom 18 actively participated. Thirteen signed the report, while four abstained, and one member was absent from the final meeting.
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Members of the Reconciliation Committee that the SWC led by Ag State Chairman Chief Paulinus Akpeki, and Elder Godsday Orubebe in a group photograph[/caption]
The SWC plans to seek endorsement from other key leaders in the state before submitting the report to the APC National Working Committee (NWC) and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.
Orubebe expressed optimism, stating, “If faithfully implemented, these recommendations will resolve longstanding crises and restore unity and strength to Delta APC.”
Earlier, the SWC announced the appointment of Chief Paulinus Akpeki as Acting State Chairman, following Elder Omeni Sobotie's medical leave. This appointment, made under Article 14.2(iii) of the APC constitution, reflects the party’s commitment to fortifying its leadership structure ahead of future elections.
The Delta APC State Working Committee officially confirmed the appointment of Chief Paulinus Akpeki as Acting State Chairman following its meeting on November 29, 2024, at the State Secretariat in Asaba.
This decision, made in accordance with the party's constitutional provisions, is seen as a strategic move to strengthen the APC’s leadership framework and steer its direction ahead of critical political activities.
In his response, after the presentation of the Committee’s report, Acting State Chairman, Chief Paulinus Akpeki pledged the SWC's commitment to implementing the recommendations outlined in the Reconciliation Committee's report. He also expressed heartfelt gratitude to the committee for their dedication and hard work in addressing longstanding challenges to achieve lasting peace within the party.
