APC Delta North senatorial ticket: Between Ifeanyi Okowa and Ned Nwoko, who will the party choose? By Paul Odili

In Delta North senatorial contest there is serious contention who will emerge the candidate of APC in the zone.

In politics, like war and indeed every conflict, propaganda, lies, blackmail, character assassination are deployed. Depending on the side you are, these tools become weapons, used to eviscerate the opponent in order to render him unelectable in the eyes of the people.

So this writeup is intended to bring a bit of sanity and offer a smidgen of truth.

In this all-out fight nothing so far has been left out. We are not yet sure what will be the final outcome- who will be the last man standing. The APC as a party, has issued a definitive statement announcing the dates of the primaries and the methodology of those primaries. However, rumor now has it, possibly spread by the apologists of Senator Nwoko, that he is the Chosen One by the national leadership of the party. How so? The rumour is that Nwoko is actually the preferred choice of the President. Why? No one has explained.

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If this then is true-it presupposes that there was a shadow primaries somewhere, unbeknownst to the rest of the members of the party in the zone.
Moreover, such rumors make nonsense of the 2026 electoral act and the party’s announcement of the selection process in line with the Act that says candidates will emerge either through consensus or direct primaries. It should even further outrage members of the party from Delta North, if some outside powers are known to be picking a candidate for the zone.

If allowed, this thinking is a reprise of the days of PDP politics. Today, we know where that has left the PDP – riveted by internal party conflicts that were started and amplified over many years. Is that the route APC wants to take? Assuming this postulation is right.

Even with such presumptive claim, Senator Nwoko has not reached out to consult, present his score card and ask for votes from the peoole or perhaps even do a victory lap. None of that has happened at all. Which leads to the thinking that the claim of his supporters might just not be true.

Why do I say this? The pathway to becoming a candidate is very clear- consensus or direct primaries. In this context, which one would Senator Nwoko really say he is in control of?

Senator Okowa with his entrance into politics since 1999 has proven to be a very capable politician that can match the best Nigeria has to offer. Does that mean his politics is flawless? Certainly not. He has openly admitted his error of judgment in running for the Vice-presidential ticket on 2023 when public sentiment was against that. Yet even doing that does not diminish the significance of what he did.

Not a man to shy away from political contests, he announced his senatorial aspiration on April 13th 2026 and followed up with consultation in the nine local government areas of the senatorial zone. He met the people and presented himself and told them why he wants to go back to the Senate. In doing this, he showed he recognized that his fate lies with the people and not some powers that are somewhere outside Delta North.

Okowa, a big exponent of grass roots politics , and an organizational politician, he has so far conducted his aspiration rooted in his philosophy. In addition, Senator Okowa is a politician that cannot be easily intimidated. In 2006, he fought the PDP system that did not want him to go to the Senate and won. In 2014, he fought the same system that did not want him to become Governor of Delta state and won. What has been persistent in his political career is his doggedness. To that extent, he prevailed.

Senator Okowa having been long in politics at a senior level will have some interests who cannot stand him. That is to be expected. In politics and in governance, he has done his best but to some his best may not be good enough. But to many, Senator Okowa is a legend. In Delta North, he has what might be described as fanatical followers and for a good reason.

Between the two men the decisive moment is approaching and the ticket has and should be given to who best represents the interest of the zone. And whose politics will bring democracy dividends to the zone.

On Anioma state creation during his consultation, Senator Okowa made it clear he is for it, provided it is located in the South-south and not South -East with Asaba as the capital. Senator Nwoko has responded that his bill for Anioma state creation has the same configuration. So the two men are aligned on this and the matter of state creation should not be a subject of disputation.

Nevertheless, their fate must lie with the people of Delta North and not some external force deciding for the people.