Senator Ned Nwoko representing Delta North Senatorial District has triggered a bitter fight in the All Progressives Congress, APC in Delta North Senatorial District with his long time political sparring partner and immediate predecessor in the Senate, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi.

Given the inclinations of the two men no one expects the clash to be a gentleman fight.

The fight has been triggered by the decision of Senator Nwoko to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to the APC which is in the opposition in Delta State.

Given Nwaoboshi’s documented antecedents as a political pugilist, few expected Nwoko’s foray into the already factionised APC in Delta State to be a cordial affair.

The reason for the bitterness between Nwoko and Nwaoboshi goes back years with the two men struggling for the ascendancy in the political configuration of Delta North.

In 2019, both men who were ironically in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP fought for the party ’s Senate ticket. Nwaoboshi prevailed and made a return to the Senate for his second term. That battle continued in 2023 when Nwaoboshi defected from the PDP to join the APC.

Nwaoboshi’s move to the APC was triggered by the fear that the immediate past governor of the state, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa was going to seek a return to the Senate in 2023. That fear prodded Nwaoboshi to defect to the APC, hoping to return to the Senate for a third term. That ambition was thwarted by Nwoko, ably helped by the strong support of the PDP machine which holds sway in Delta North.

Nwoko, whose second term aspiration on the platform of the PDP appears to have derailed even before the second year in the Senate has himself in panic crossed over to the APC after burning the bridges that helped him into the Senate.

It is, however, a gambit that many claim as double jeopardy. He has to contend with his old foe Nwaoboshi and if he prevails against Nwaoboshi, then with the PDP which holds sway in Delta North.

According to reports Nwoko’s move into the APC was negotiated with top party stakeholders in Abuja, a move that many aligned with Nwaoboshi see as despicable.

Nwaoboshi who still dreams of returning to the Senate in 2027 has also seen the emergence of Nwoko as a threat to his aspiration. It was as such no surprise that on Tuesday, he launched a tirade against his old political foe.

In a statement titled “Ned Nwoko’s Attempts to Destabilize the Delta State APC” Nwaoboshi was
unsparing of the Delta North senator describing his move as self-centred and suicidal.

He said: “I have been made aware that Senator Ned Nwoko, who recently announced his planned defection, is secretly plotting with some elements in the Presidency to dissolve the Delta State APC Executives from state to wards before their tenure expires. This move is unacceptable and poses a significant threat to our party ’s stability and unity in Delta State.

“As a former senator who represented Delta North Senatorial District from 2015 to 2023, and a leader in the All Progressives Congress (APC), I strongly condemn Nwoko’s attempt to destabilize the Delta State APC. His actions are unjust and arrogant, particularly since he is not yet a member of the party. It disregards the democratic principles our party upholds and disrespects the rights of the duly elected members of the Delta State APC Executive.

“The Delta State APC Executive was duly elected and has a mandate to complete their tenure. Any attempts to dissolve the executive would violate the party ’s constitution and create chaos within the party. It has the potential to prevent Delta APC from fielding candidates in the 2027 general elections.

“If Nwoko is genuinely interested in joining the APC, he must follow the same process as any other member. This entails building relationships with party members, respecting the party ’s leadership structure and internal affairs, and adhering to the party ’s constitution and democratic processes. He cannot expect to join the party and immediately dictate how things should be done.

“The APC is a democratic institution with established rules and procedures; therefore, Nwoko must be willing to abide by these rules if he wishes to be a part of our party.

“Nwoko’s actions are clearly driven by self-interest, rather than a genuine desire to serve the people of Delta State. His history of party-hopping and lack of commitment to any particular party or cause are well-documented, indicating that his interest in joining the APC is motivated by personal gain rather than a commitment to the party’s ideals.

“I strongly advise Nwoko to refrain from interfering with the Delta State APC’s internal affairs and to respect the party ’s constitution and democratic processes. Any further attempts to destabilize the party will be met with stiff resistance from me and other concerned stakeholders.

“Furthermore, I urge the National leadership of the party and the Presidency to ignore Nwoko’s demand for the dissolution of the Delta State Executive Committee of the party, as it is unconstitutional and motivated by personal gain. The National leadership should uphold the party ’s constitution and democratic processes, rather than succumbing to the whims of individuals seeking to destabilize the party.

We will continue to defend our party’s integrity and democracy, and we will not be intimidated by Nwoko’s antics.”

Besides Nwaoboshi, Senator Nwoko also has other party figures in Delta North like Engr Victor Ochei among others to contend with in his bid to find relevance in the party.

Meanwhile, allies of Senator Nwoko have accused Nwaoboshi of posing a threat to the success of the party in Delta State and in the Northern Senatorial District in particular.

His supporters allege that Nwaoboshi in a bid to sustain his position as the leader of the party in the zone is determined to spoil the chances of President Bola Tinubu’s second term prospects in the state.

According to them with Nwaoboshi as leader, the party did not make impact, noting that the entry of Nwoko is what is needed to push the party to glory in the North and in the state.

Meanwhile, the PDP which has prevailed in most elections in recent times in the constituency is watching with baited breath as the two elephants trump on the ground of the APC in Delta North.