Okonkwo Dismisses Rebuttal, Insists Asaba Age Grades Backed Elumelu, APC Delta North Candidates

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A prominent Asaba community leader, Sir Tobechukwu Okonkwo, has faulted claims that the Asaba traditional age grades did not endorse former Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, insisting that the endorsement was openly made by the leadership of the age grades during a stakeholders’ meeting.

Okonkwo was reacting to a statement issued by the Otu Nwatanwelinkea/Otu Ife Onye Wepuanya Joint Age Grade, which distanced the traditional institution from reports that Asaba age grades had passed a vote of confidence on Elumelu and endorsed candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta North ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Addressing journalists in Asaba, Okonkwo described the rebuttal as a misrepresentation of what transpired at the meeting, maintaining that participants unanimously expressed confidence in Elumelu after reviewing what they considered his contributions to the growth and development of Asaba.

According to him, the endorsement was neither manufactured nor imposed, but was voluntarily made by the leadership of the various Asaba age grades in the presence of attendees.

“The meeting was open, transparent and witnessed by numerous participants. Those present freely expressed their support for Rt. Hon. Ndudi Elumelu and the APC candidates in Delta North after acknowledging his record of service to the Asaba people,” he said.

Okonkwo said the events of the meeting were captured on video, adding that the recordings clearly show the leadership of the age grades publicly endorsing Elumelu and the APC candidates.

“The video recordings are available and speak for themselves. Anyone who watches them will see the leadership of the various Asaba age grades openly declaring their support for Rt. Hon. Ndudi Elumelu and the APC candidates in Delta North. No one was compelled to make those declarations,” he stated.
He argued that subsequent attempts to deny the outcome of the meeting could not erase what was publicly said and recorded, urging members of the public to rely on the available evidence rather than conflicting narratives.
While acknowledging the right of individuals and groups to hold differing political opinions, Okonkwo said it was unfair to discredit the views expressed by those who attended the meeting, insisting that their endorsement reflected their genuine assessment of Elumelu’s contributions to the Asaba community.

He further called for honesty in public discourse, urging all parties to avoid statements capable of creating confusion over events that, according to him, were conducted openly and documented in full view of participants.

The remarks come amid growing debate over the political significance of the meeting and the subsequent statement issued by the Otu Nwatanwelinkea/Otu Ife Onye Wepuanya Joint Age Grade rejecting reports that the traditional institution had officially endorsed Elumelu and APC candidates