Lawyer Rejects APC Senatorial Primary Outcome in Delta North
Chris Okobah, legal adviser to Senator Ned Nwoko, has dismissed the official result of the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primary held in Delta North on May 18. He insists that the declared winner, former Delta State governor Ifeanyi Okowa, did not actually prevail.
Alleged Vote Totals and Supporting Evidence
According to Okobah, field records show Senator Ned Nwoko secured approximately 123,000 votes, while Okowa garnered only about 5,000. He said the campaign possesses video footage, agents’ reports, and ward‑level data from all 98 wards in the senatorial district to substantiate this claim.
Claims of Manipulation, Intimidation, and Violence
Okobah alleged that the electoral process was compromised before voting day. He said panel members were housed in government VIP lodges, kept away from candidates and their supporters, while many assigned officials failed to appear at polling stations. Delegates, he added, faced intimidation and disruption by violence.
He further claimed that the returning officers were reportedly commissioners, advisers, assistants, or individuals linked to the state government, accusing them of being appointed and controlled by powerful state interests. “There was no proper accreditation, transparent voting, honest counting, or genuine collation,” Okobah stated, describing the exercise as a political fraud dressed in party colours.
Party Response and Current Status
When contacted, APC National Secretary Senator Ajibola Basiru said the party had not yet released official primary results and that the matter remains before the election appeal committee. He urged the public to ignore unofficial reports, noting that any statements outside the party’s process are merely drama.
Demand for Review and Accountability
Okobah concluded by rejecting the announced outcome in its entirety. He called for a comprehensive review of the primary, the cancellation of all manipulated results, and accountability for everyone involved in what he described as a shameful assault on democracy.
