A political storm is growing in Delta North Senatorial District following a controversial social media post by Fidelis Egugbo, Press Secretary to Delta State Deputy Governor, Sir Monday Onyeme, questioning the coordination of the upcoming All Progressives Congress (APC) meeting scheduled for June 14, 2025, at Senator Ned Nwoko’s residence in Idumuje-Ugboko.
Egugbo’s post, which referenced historical norms from previous PDP-led administrations, suggested that Deputy Governors had traditionally hosted such meetings and proposed that Onyeme should assume that role for the APC. He further advised a private meeting between Onyeme and Senator Nwoko to avoid perceived factionalism, a suggestion that triggered immediate backlash from APC members and stakeholders.
Reacting swiftly, Dr. Michael Nwoko, Chief of Staff to Senator Nwoko, debunked Egugbo’s claims, explaining that the June 14 meeting was part of an established bi-monthly rotational schedule among Delta North’s three federal constituencies: Ika, Ndokwa/Ukwuani, and Aniocha/Oshimili. He clarified that similar meetings had already been hosted by Doris Uboh in Agbor (February 22) and Chief Johnson Opone in Kwale (April 13), making the Aniocha/Oshimili zone the next in line.
Other APC leaders also condemned Egugbo’s remarks as divisive and misleading. Eze Onwenna emphasized that the meeting was authorized by the Delta North APC Chairman, Adizue Eluaka, and not called by Senator Nwoko in isolation. He urged party members to seek clarity before making public statements that could undermine internal cohesion.
Prominent grassroots voices weighed in as well. Barth Ozah, a former councilor in Ndokwa West, pointed out that Onyeme had never hosted similar meetings during his PDP tenure, weakening the precedent cited by Egugbo. Ozuem Paul Ifeanyi called on the Deputy Governor to prioritize development in the Ndokwa Nation rather than seeking political dominance within APC structures.
Egugbo’s post also reignited debate over Onyeme’s formal status in the APC. Commentators such as Emmanuel Okonne questioned whether the Deputy Governor had officially defected from the PDP, while Emmanuel Eboh and Chief Emma Ejiofor criticized any attempt to impose leadership on the party without due process or grassroots legitimacy.
Calls for de-escalation followed from stakeholders including Emma Eboh and King Ojuwa, who reaffirmed that the upcoming meeting had been publicly announced at the April 13 gathering in Kwale. They emphasized that APC senatorial meetings are typically convened by party officials, not political officeholders, and should not be politicized.
The unfolding controversy underscores a deeper power struggle within Delta North APC, as the party grapples with the integration of high-profile defectors and shifting political dynamics. While Egugbo framed his intervention as a call for unity, critics argue that bypassing party structures in favor of government hierarchy undermines internal democracy and threatens cohesion.
As the June 14 meeting draws closer, party loyalists insist that APC leadership must be earned through participation and trust-building, not inherited from PDP traditions or secured by executive status. The situation remains tense, with the outcome of the meeting likely to shape the direction of APC politics in Delta North.
