*You Failed To Connect With Grassroots, Aniagwu Counters
THE senator representing Delta North in the National Assembly, Ned Nwoko, has alleged that the results of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries as announced and reported in the media were manipulated by the state government to suit his opponent and former governor, Ifeanyi Okowa.
Nwoko, speaking on a television programme on Tuesday, may 19, dismissed the said results, insisting that he actually won the primary.
According to him: “The APC primaries for Delta North were conducted across 98 wards. I possess video evidence from each ward demonstrating that I won the election, and I intend to present it to the party.
“Midway through the process, we were informed that no results would be disclosed at the ward level. We were led to believe that the results would be revealed at the national level, and we expected the party to adhere to proper procedures.
“Instead, we were abruptly given a result from a single ward that is closely associated with the former governor, and this result was utilised as the basis for declaring the winner.
“The governor of Delta State is colluding with Okowa.”
However, the state Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Charles Aniagwu, accused Nwoko of disconnecting from grassroots politics; hence his defeat in the primary.
Also speaking on a television programme on Tuesday, Aniagwu said Nwoko relied too heavily on political influence outside the state, while neglecting party structures and stakeholders at home, describing his emergence as senator in 2023 as a “scholarship” allegedly facilitated by Okowa, who directed his loyalists to support Nwoko at the time.
The commissioner stated that the incumbent senator failed to appreciate the support that brought him to office and did little to maintain relationships with party members and community leaders across Delta North, adding: “He did not connect with commissioners, House of Assembly members, local government chairmen or ward leaders, who are the people that work directly with the grassroots.
“Worst of all, during Yuletide, Ned will pretend to be a Muslim and will not gift traditional rulers even five months old goat, yet he expects their subjects to support him.”
He further alleged that the senator had failed to carry out empowerment programmes or attract significant projects to the nine local government areas of his district in the past three years in the senate
Aniagwu stated that unlike Nwoko, Okowa retained overwhelming support in the district because of his continued accessibility and close relationship with the people even after leaving office as governor, noting: “Okowa attends functions, visits grieving families and celebrates with people during joyful occasions. Those relationships matter in politics.”
He said party primaries are decided by loyal party members who expect consistent engagement from aspirants, adding that many of the defeated contestants only resurfaced shortly before the elections, while some rely on “old political glory,” rather than genuine mobilisation.
Aniagwu stressed that the APC primaries in the state ultimately rewarded candidates who maintained close contact with party members and respected local political dynamics.
