A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, has accused unnamed officials in the Presidency of fueling the internal crisis within the Delta State chapter of the party. He warned that if the infighting continues, he will reveal the identities of those behind the division, whom he accused of working against the interests of the party for their selfish gain.
Speaking in a recent interview, Senator Nwaoboshi, who represented Delta North in the National Assembly and was the former Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Niger Delta, said that the APC in Delta was a united family before the 2023 presidential election, which brought President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to power.
He claimed that things fell apart after the election due to the actions of certain individuals in the Presidency who allegedly conspired to sideline former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, who was the APC gubernatorial candidate in the 2023 general elections.
According to Nwaoboshi, these individuals worked behind the scenes to ensure that Omo-Agege would not benefit from the new APC-led federal government.
“The persons I vowed to expose have made sure that Omo-Agege does not get anything from this present government,” he said. “His only concern, which he has shared with me a few times, is that he should be recognised and respected as a former leader of the party in Delta State.”
Nwaoboshi described Omo-Agege as the undisputed leader of the APC in the state during his time in office, noting that his position was never in doubt.
“You remember when people challenged him back then, I stood up and said Omo-Agege is the leader of the party in Delta. I challenged anyone who doubted that to a public debate. He was the Deputy Senate President; there was no argument. But some people in the Presidency stirred up the trouble,” he explained.
The senator revealed that before the internal conflict began, Omo-Agege played a major role in building the party’s strength in Delta. He credited him with the emergence of two APC senators in the state during his tenure, saying Omo-Agege was responsible for over 80 per cent of the work that produced their victories.
However, Nwaoboshi now believes that Omo-Agege’s chances of running successfully for the 2027 governorship under the APC are slim. He explained that as long as the current governor, who is also from the APC, seeks re-election, Omo-Agege would find it difficult to win the party’s primary or the general election.
“I have advised him as a senior brother and someone older in politics. He cannot win the APC ticket if the sitting governor is also running. It’s extremely difficult to change the system when the governor is seeking a second term,” Nwaoboshi said.
He also disclosed that he has had private conversations with Omo-Agege, as well as with former Delta State Governor James Ibori and other party leaders, where he made his position clear.
“My advice is based on political experience. The primary election itself will be a big challenge, not to talk of the general election,” he added.
Nwaoboshi’s comments shed more light on the deepening divisions within the Delta APC, which have been ongoing since after the 2023 elections. Many party supporters in the state have expressed concerns over the leadership tussle and lack of unity ahead of future political contests.
The situation is further complicated by the influence of federal appointments and political patronage, with accusations that certain politicians in Abuja are using their connections to sideline local leaders.
Though Senator Nwaoboshi did not reveal specific names, his warning suggests he may come forward with more details if efforts to reconcile the party’s warring factions fail.
