By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu, Asaba
DELTA: Leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta North have strongly rejected a recent social media post by Fidelis Egugbo, Press Secretary to Deputy Governor Sir Monday Onyeme, which questioned the coordination of the party’s upcoming senatorial meeting scheduled for June 14 at the residence of Senator Ned Nwoko in Idumuje-Ugboko.
Egugbo, in the now-controversial post, argued that by political tradition, such meetings should be convened by deputy governors and not senators. He suggested that Sir Onyeme, a former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, should engage in a private dialogue with Senator Nwoko to avoid creating the impression of factionalism within the APC.
But his comments have triggered backlash from several APC stalwarts, who described the remarks as divisive and a misrepresentation of the party’s internal processes.
Dr. Michael Nwoko, Chief of Staff to Senator Nwoko, clarified that the June 14 meeting is part of a pre-existing rotational arrangement among Delta North’s three federal constituencies — Ika, Ndokwa/Ukwuani, and Aniocha/Oshimili — and not a personal initiative of the senator.
“This is not a new tradition. The first meeting was held in Agbor on February 22, hosted by Hon. Doris Uboh. The second was in Kwale on April 13, hosted by Chief Johnson Opone. The upcoming one in Aniocha/Oshimili follows the agreed rotation,” he said.
Also reacting, Eze Onwenna, a party chieftain, reminded stakeholders that the meeting was sanctioned by the Delta North APC Chairman, Adizue Eluaka.
“It is misleading to suggest Senator Nwoko is acting outside the party’s structure. Our meetings are guided by internal processes. Attempts to politicize routine engagements threaten the unity of our party,” he warned.
Barth Ozah, a former councilor from Ndokwa West, described Egugbo’s reference to PDP practices as “inaccurate and misleading,” stressing that Onyeme never hosted such meetings while in the PDP.
“The attempt to impose a new narrative on APC structures based on a PDP playbook is deceptive,” he added.
Another stakeholder, Ozuem Paul Ifeanyi, urged the Deputy Governor to focus on tangible development for the Ndokwa people rather than seek political leverage within the APC.
Similarly, Emmanuel Okonne questioned whether Onyeme had formally defected to the APC, while Chief Emma Ejiofor and Emmanuel Eboh cautioned against the imposition of leadership through government backing.
“Leadership in APC must emerge through trust and the party’s internal democracy, not through executive privilege or influence,” Ejiofor said.
King Ojuwa, another party leader, appealed for calm, noting that the June 14 meeting was publicly announced at the previous meeting in Kwale.
“This gathering is not about individual egos. It is about strengthening the APC in Delta North through collaboration and shared responsibility,” he noted.
The controversy underscores ongoing tensions within Delta North APC, particularly as it continues to accommodate high-profile defectors from rival political parties. While Egugbo insists his comments were aimed at promoting harmony, party loyalists argue they undermine established norms and democratic structures.
As the June 14 meeting approaches, party stakeholders are urging a renewed focus on unity, inclusiveness, and respect for institutional procedures within the APC.