The Delta State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is grappling with increasing tensions as loyalists of Senator Ovie Omo-Agege have rejected the recommendations of the Olorogun O’tega Emerhor-led Reconciliation Committee.
This rejection comes amid ongoing disputes within the party, which have worsened following the 2023 general elections. The committee was tasked with resolving internal issues and promoting unity within the party as it looks ahead to future electoral challenges.
However, the committee’s report has not been well received by all factions. While many party leaders, including high-profile figures such as the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, and several APC legislators, have endorsed the report, Omo-Agege’s supporters have strongly opposed it.
The Reconciliation Committee’s majority report calls for the introduction of a collegiate leadership structure within the party. This model seeks to ensure inclusivity, transparency, and broader participation in decision-making, especially during party congresses.
However, Omo-Agege’s loyalists argue that this approach undermines the party’s grassroots and violates its established guidelines. According to them, the proposed leadership model would stifle the participation of key stakeholders and fail to respect the party’s original framework.
In response, Omo-Agege’s faction issued a minority report, rejecting the committee’s recommendations and challenging the legitimacy of the majority report. They argue that the committee was biased and favoured certain leaders, including non-APC members, thereby undermining the party’s unity and integrity.
The minority report calls for the return of the “super leader” model, which places greater power in the hands of a single leader, such as Omo-Agege. Supporters of this approach argue that it would restore stability and direction to the party, which they claim is essential for electoral success.
One APC leader, speaking on the condition of anonymity, criticised the majority report and its call for a more collective leadership model. The leader said, “Senator Omo-Agege’s leadership style alienated key stakeholders and weakened the party’s unity. The Delta APC must move beyond a one-man narrative.”
Others within the party, however, believe that the collegiate leadership model is the way forward for the APC in Delta State. A senior APC chieftain argued that this approach would allow the party to effectively challenge the dominance of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.
“We need to work together as a team, with shared responsibilities. This is the only way we can seriously contest the PDP’s hold over Delta State,” the chieftain said.
The rift between the two factions has drawn attention from both party insiders and political observers. Some have raised concerns about the future of the APC in Delta, with growing divisions threatening to further erode the party’s credibility and chances of success in future elections.
Despite these divisions, party leaders are calling for unity and a focus on the collective good of the party. The party’s failure to resolve the leadership crisis could have significant implications for its ability to challenge the ruling PDP in the state.
The dispute over the reconciliation report is just the latest in a series of leadership challenges facing the APC in Delta State. As the party struggles to present a united front, its ability to mount a successful challenge to the PDP in the upcoming elections remains uncertain.
Many believe that the APC needs a clear and cohesive leadership strategy if it hopes to make inroads into Delta State’s political landscape. The battle for control of the party in the state will likely continue to unfold in the coming months, with both factions unwilling to back down.
The leadership struggle is also indicative of wider challenges within Nigerian politics, where party loyalty and personal ambitions often come into conflict. The APC in Delta State now faces a crucial test: whether it can overcome these internal divisions and forge a path to unity and electoral success.
