Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A political earthquake shook Delta North on Monday as former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa obliterated the incumbent Senator Ned Nwoko in the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primary, polling a staggering 113,309 votes against Nwoko’s paltry 2,612, a margin of defeat that has sent shockwaves through the state’s political landscape. The primary, which also featured Dr. Maryam Ali, saw her secure just 40 votes, further underscoring the one‑sided nature of the contest.
The results, announced by the APC Returning Officer, Prof. Johnbull Tonukari, and the Chairman of the National Assembly Primary Election Committee for Delta State, Eugene Odo, were described as transparent and credible by party officials. Okowa’s dominance was total, as he carried nearly all of the nine local government areas that constitute the senatorial district. In a particularly symbolic upset, Okowa even won in Nwoko’s own local government, polling 5,480 votes against the incumbent’s 1,343 votes. The scale of the victory was a stark repudiation of a man who, until Monday, had hoped to represent the district in the Senate for another four years.
For Nwoko, the defeat is a crushing personal and political blow. It marks the end of his Senate career and a dramatic fall from grace for a flamboyant politician who, until recently, had seemed to have the full backing of the state machinery. In a last‑ditch attempt to salvage his political future, the Ned Nwoko Campaign Group, through its Director General, Ekene Kerry, had earlier alleged a state hijack of the primary, claiming the process was orchestrated to block Nwoko’s re‑election in favour of the former governor. The 113,309 to 2,612 result, however, suggests that no amount of political maneuvering could have saved a candidacy that clearly lacked grassroots support. Despite his frantic efforts, it was not enough to hold back the tide of support for Okowa, who remains a towering figure in Delta politics. His name alone carries immense weight, capable of drawing massive crowds and influencing outcomes, while Nwoko, for all his financial resources and celebrity connections, has now been exposed as lacking the same level of organic political capital.
The primary was part of a wider exercise across Delta State. In Delta Central, incumbent Senator Ede Dafinone also secured a decisive victory, defeating former Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege with 116,252 votes to 3,643 votes. The outcomes have set the stage for the 2027 general elections, with the APC now fielding two formidable candidates in the North and Central districts. For Okowa, the victory represents a significant step in a remarkable political comeback. Having served two terms as governor from 2015 to 2023, his influence within the ruling party has only grown since his defection, positioning him as a kingmaker in Delta politics.
The results of the primary also highlight the fragility of political power. Ned Nwoko, who was once the darling of the APC establishment, has now been unceremoniously dumped by the same party that carried him to victory in 2023. His loss serves as a brutal reminder that in Nigeria’s political arena, yesterday’s champion can quickly become tomorrow’s casualty. As the dust settles over the collation centres, the question on everyone’s lips is not just what went wrong for Nwoko, but what role the legacy of Okowa’s governorship and his enduring grassroots appeal played in engineering this extraordinary outcome. For now, the immediate past governor has reclaimed his place as the undisputed leader of Delta North, and Ned Nwoko’s political future hangs in the balance.
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