The tension, sources say, stems from a power struggle between longstanding APC leaders and members, and defectors from the defunct Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), particularly over control of the new ward and local government executives.
A crisis is currently unfolding within the Delta State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) following allegations of imposed ward and local government executive consensus lists ahead of the party’s scheduled congresses, SaharaReporters has learned.
The tension, sources say, stems from a power struggle between longstanding APC leaders and members, and defectors from the defunct Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), particularly over control of the new ward and local government executives.
The unrest, which spans the three senatorial districts of the state, reportedly began last week when the party initiated the compilation of consensus lists for ward and local government executives. The process has already led to the suspension of some government officials and party members for alleged anti-party activities.
The imposition of these new executives’ lists has triggered a series of protests at the APC State Secretariat in Asaba.
In Ughelli South Local Government Area, both APC and former PDP members have rejected the new consensus lists, alleging that they were imposed on party members by a government contractor and former PDP leader, identified as Oguma. Protesters have called on Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to distance himself from Oguma’s influence.
Old APC members and PDP defectors accused Oguma and Akpeki, an APC executive in Delta Central Senatorial District, of colluding to impose candidates and undermine the “will of party members” ahead of the Ughelli South ward and local government congresses. They also alleged that as much as one million naira had already changed hands in the process.
“The future of Ughelli South, and the credibility of the APC party in Delta State, must not be sacrificed for the ambition and selfishness of a few who think they can use money to buy their way against the will of the people,” a former councillor said.
In Ughelli North Local Government Area, APC members, particularly long-standing party faithful, have protested what they described as the imposition of Lucky Ofomukoro as consensus chairman, contrary to the wishes of local party members.
During a meeting held Sunday at the local government secretariat in Ughelli, presided over by Fred Majemite, a former PDP chieftain and now vice chairman of the APC Ughelli North Leaders Council, sources gathered that the selection and alleged imposition of Ofomukoro did not sit well with the old APC members, who subsequently rejected his candidacy.
At Ogor Ward in the same local government area, longstanding APC members raised concerns about political intimidation by Kelly Oghenekevwe, a former PDP member and director at the State Board of Internal Revenue. He was accused of undermining party leadership and manipulating the consensus executive list.
SaharaReporters further gathered that the ward congresses to produce consensus executives have triggered similar crises across several wards, largely due to the perceived dominance of former PDP members in the process.
In Ika North East Local Government Area, the pattern continued, with former PDP members allegedly imposing their candidates on old APC members at both ward and local government levels, creating tensions within the party.
At Isoko North Local Government Area, a caucus meeting held in Ozoro on Wednesday saw APC leaders, especially former PDP defectors, protest against Jonathan Ukodhiko, the member representing Isoko Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives. They accused him of attempting to install his aide, Sunny Elueni, as APC chairman.
Sources told SaharaReporters that Ukodhiko’s second-term ambitions fueled the backlash, prompting leaders to reject his influence in producing the local government party chairman. A follow-up caucus meeting was subsequently scheduled for Saturday.
One of the sources said, “Ukodhiko is trying by all means to impose his SA as the APC Isoko North LGA party chairman. During Wednesday’s caucus meeting of leaders to harmonize the LGA consensus executive list, former Isoko North council chairman Oghoore nominated the former LGA secretary of the defunct PDP as chairman. When Ukodhiko introduced the name of his SA for the same position, there was immediate revolt, with leaders insisting he cannot impose his stooge as the party’s chairman.
“Apart from that, as a House of Representatives member, what has he done for the people of Isoko Nation? He is a monumental failure, and come 2027, the people of Isoko shall vote against him because we are wiser now.
“He rarely comes home to understand the challenges of his constituents, relying instead on throwing money around. But this time, his money will fail him. He is a lawmaker out of touch with his constituents. Sharing Christmas rice, wrappers, salt, and noodles will not save him in 2027.”
A crisis is also unfolding in Emevor and Iyede Ward 1, both in Isoko North Local Government Area, as longtime APC leaders and members accuse Kome Okpobor, a new party member and Executive Director of Finance and Administration at the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) and a former PDP member, of using one of his allies, former Isoko North vice chairman Frank Ozue, to manipulate the Iyede Ward 1 consensus executive list against their wishes.
The old APC members emphasized that Okpobor, who hails from Iyede Ward 2, has no authority to interfere in the selection process of Ward 1.
They vowed to resist his influence “with the last drop of our blood,” alleging that Okpobor had repeatedly boasted that Governor Sheriff Oborevwori had promised to hand over power to him in 2031, when it would allegedly be Isoko’s turn to produce the next state governor.
SaharaReporters also gathered that the ward congress crisis has affected Irri Wards 10 and 11, as well as Uzere wards, where former PDP leaders reportedly submitted multiple competing consensus lists to the party secretariat in Asaba.
At the time of filing this report, SaharaReporters observed leaders and members from various wards and local government councils entering and exiting the APC State Secretariat in Asaba to submit protest letters and complaints.
When contacted, the APC State Chairman, Omeni Sobotie, declined to comment, stating only: “Please keep all your questions until after the party’s ward congresses coming up on Wednesday, February 18, 2026.”
