The senator representing Delta North in the National Assembly, Ned Nwoko, has insisted that he won the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primary for the district, alleging that the outcome was manipulated to favour former Delta State governor, Ifeanyi Okowa.
Nwoko, in a statement he personally signed and issued to journalists in Asaba on Thursday, expressed strong dissatisfaction with the conduct of the exercise, insisting that the process lacked transparency and fairness from the outset.
“The process was manipulated from day one. The state government. It’s something that they conspired to produce results for what they saw, or what they produced,” he alleged.
He further claimed that he defeated Okowa in the primary election, adding that his camp possesses ward-by-ward results and video evidence which, according to him, had already been submitted to relevant authorities.
“We have submitted them. Halfway through the primary, we got a message on our phones that no results should be announced at the ward level—that they should be collected and then announced later at the national in Abuja… And suddenly, we saw some news,” he said.
Nwoko also argued that only a single video from one ward was circulated to validate the declared outcome, insisting that it did not represent the broader exercise conducted across the state.
“We saw only that one video—of one of the wards in Ika North East… It was just one video… although in the result, they said there were 5,000,” he explained.
According to him, the video showing Ifeanyi Okowa being announced as winner represented only one ward out of the 98 wards involved in the primary election. He challenged APC officials to release full results and supporting evidence from all wards to ensure transparency.
“I want you to understand something. The video that you saw… just one video from one ward out of 98 wards. They must show us the figures,” he insisted.
The senator maintained that he would not accept any outcome upheld by the APC national leadership if it contradicted what he described as the genuine mandate freely given by party members.
“I wouldn’t accept. Because I have a mandate. I have a mandate by the people,” he said.
Addressing reports of violence and intimidation during the exercise, Nwoko described them as isolated incidents that did not affect the overall outcome, claiming they occurred in only a small number of wards.
“They were just isolated cases, maybe in about 10 wards out of 98. Not enough to make a difference,” he added.
He also reiterated his reasons for leaving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), alleging that interference from state leadership limited his effectiveness as a senator while in office.
“I was in PDP. I got elected as a PDP senator… but I realized that my people there—the Governor, Okowa himself—didn’t allow me to operate freely,” he said.
Nwoko further insisted that turnout across the 98 wards demonstrated overwhelming support for his candidacy, citing video evidence as proof of what he described as a clear mandate from party members.
“They came out in mass to vote for me… I’m referring to all the videos,” he stated.
He, however, expressed confidence that President Bola Tinubu would intervene in the matter, while reaffirming his loyalty to the APC and the national leadership of the party.
“I’m not going to say I’m going to work against the party; I’m going to work for the party. But I can assure you… the President will intervene in this matter,” he said.
