According to reports by Vanguard News on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, a growing dispute has emerged within Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress after Senator Ned Nwoko rejected the outcome of the party’s senatorial primary election in Delta State and announced plans to challenge the process in court.
Speaking during an interview on Arise News, Nwoko disputed the declaration of former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as the winner of the primary contest. The senator alleged that the official results released by party authorities did not accurately represent the votes cast by delegates during the exercise.
Nwoko claimed his political camp had gathered results and supporting materials from wards across the senatorial district, insisting that the evidence indicated he secured the majority of votes. According to him, the process became controversial after party officials allegedly instructed that no results should be publicly announced at ward collation centers during the exercise.
The senator stated that participants were informed midway through the primary that all results would instead be forwarded to the APC national headquarters in Abuja for final collation and announcement. He said his team complied with the directive in the interest of party discipline and transparency, believing the official process would reflect the actual outcome recorded at the grassroots level.
However, Nwoko expressed concern after videos and unofficial reports began circulating online declaring Okowa as the winner. He questioned the credibility of some of the figures allegedly announced from certain wards, arguing that turnout numbers shown in available footage did not appear consistent with the vote totals later attributed to those locations.
According to the senator, only limited visual evidence from one ward had been made public, while no detailed breakdown had been released for the remaining polling units involved in the exercise. He challenged party authorities to provide complete documentation and supporting evidence from all wards to verify the announced results.
Nwoko maintained that he would not accept any outcome that contradicted what he described as the genuine mandate of party members. He confirmed that his legal team is preparing to pursue litigation over the matter, insisting that the dispute should be resolved through lawful and constitutional means.
Despite his dissatisfaction with the process, the senator stressed that he remains committed to the APC and would not take actions capable of undermining the party’s unity. He expressed confidence that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is aware of the political tensions within the Delta State chapter of the party and could intervene to address the situation.
Nwoko also raised broader concerns about internal party dynamics in Delta State following the defection of former members of the opposition People’s Democratic Party into the APC. He alleged that longstanding APC members have gradually lost influence within the state structure as newer political entrants gained control of key positions and decision-making processes.
