By Ovasa Ogaga,
A fresh crisis has erupted within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta North Senatorial District as ward chairmen called for the immediate suspension of the ongoing ward congress, describing the process as flawed, vindictive, and inconsistent with the party’s constitution.
In a protest letter addressed to the Delta State APC Chairman, Sobotie Omeni, the chairmen urged the party leadership to halt the exercise and conduct a fresh congress under a framework they termed transparent and constitutionally compliant.
According to the aggrieved chairmen, the consensus-based approach adopted for the congress in Delta North has sidelined established grassroots leaders and weakened internal democracy at the ward level.
They insisted that any new process must clearly define a sharing formula between longstanding party faithful and recent entrants into the party.
The chairmen further alleged that loyal APC members, including those who actively worked for the victory of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election, are now being marginalised.
The letter claimed that individuals who previously belonged to opposition parties — including some who contested elections on rival platforms — are being favoured in the ongoing arrangements.
According to the protesting leaders, many of the new entrants are driven by “political self-preservation” rather than genuine commitment to party ideals, and they warn that the trend could undermine party cohesion and discipline.
They also alleged that ward chairmen are being targeted for resisting internal manoeuvres capable of weakening the party’s grassroots structure ahead of future elections.
Describing ward leaders as critical to safeguarding party interests, the signatories called on the state leadership to intervene urgently to restore fairness, transparency, and constitutional order in the congress process.
The protest letter was endorsed by ward chairmen representatives from the nine local government areas in Delta North Senatorial District.
Signatories include Frank Asimoye (Aniocha North), Onwuemene Gabriel (Aniocha South), Pastor Andrew Ehiyem (Ika North East), Nduka Erikume (Ika South), Kenneth Akadidi (Ndokwa East), Ochonogor Benjamin (Ndokwa West), Okocha Patrick (Oshimili South), and Emma Odogwu Chukwuekwu (Oshimili North).
