Senator Ned Nwoko’s recent accusations of manipulation in the Delta North APC primary have been met with a fierce rebuttal from a top party official. Norbert Sochukwudinma, Chairman of all local government chairmen in Delta State APC and Senior Special Assistant to the National Chairman, has vehemently denied Nwoko’s claims, labeling them as outright falsehoods and insisting the election results are a true reflection of the party’s internal dynamics. This whole drama is heating up the political landscape, and it’s crucial to understand what really happened. Here’s a breakdown of the key points:
- Senator Ned Nwoko alleged manipulation in the Delta North APC primary results.
- Norbert Sochukwudinma dismissed these claims as “blatant lies” in a recent interview.
- Sochukwudinma stated Nwoko failed to engage with party leaders and grassroots structures prior to the primary.
- He emphasized that only accredited APC card-carrying members voted, not just any crowd.
- Alleged circulated typed results were dismissed as fabricated, with authentic results being handwritten.
- Sochukwudinma cited Nwoko’s lack of engagement with party structures as the reason for his poor performance.
- He clarified that APC primaries are organized by the National Working Committee, not the state governor.
- The APC chieftain highlighted that consensus and internal democracy are key to the party’s decision-making.
- Sochukwudinma accused Nwoko of seeking preferential treatment with an “automatic ticket” demand.
Nwoko’s Claims: A ‘Blatant Lie,’ Says APC Stalwart
Senator Ned Nwoko had initially spoken to ARISE NEWS, painting a picture of a manipulated primary election in Delta North. However, Norbert Sochukwudinma, speaking on the same platform, didn’t hold back. He described Nwoko’s assertions as a “blatant lie,” pointing out that the Senator seemingly failed to do his homework before the election.
“When you fail to plan, you’ve already planned to fail,” Sochukwudinma stated, emphasizing that Nwoko completely distanced himself from the party’s foundational structures. “I don’t know where he would have manufactured support or victory. Someone who desires to run for an election never consulted any of the local government party chairmen—nine of us—never consulted the leaders across the nine local governments.”
The Reality of Party Primaries: It’s About Members, Not Showbiz
Sochukwudinma took the opportunity to educate the public on how party primaries actually work. He stressed that these are not public rallies where popularity contests are won. Instead, it’s an internal affair strictly for registered, card-carrying members of the All Progressive Congress (APC).
“Only card-carrying members of the APC are eligible voters in the primary. Politics and party politics is not showbiz. You don’t demonstrate by moving and people following you; those who are following you don’t even have party cards, they can’t even vote,” he explained. This distinction is crucial, as it highlights the difference between popular appeal and genuine party backing.
Fabricated Results vs. Handwritten Truths
Adding another layer to the controversy, Sochukwudinma addressed the circulated results. He pointed out that many of the sheets seen in the media were typed, which he claims is a sign of fabrication. According to him, the authentic results from the primary are handwritten and were officially submitted by certified returning officers from across the 98 wards in Delta North.
“I saw some results that they circulated on the media—results that were typewritten. Our results are handwritten. They are not typed,” he insisted. This detail aims to sow doubt about the validity of any documents not adhering to the party’s official procedure.
Nwoko’s Limited Reach: A Failure to Engage
The APC chieftain didn’t shy away from discussing Senator Nwoko’s actual support base within the party. Sochukwudinma expressed surprise that Nwoko managed to garner over 2,000 votes, attributing this to the inherent structure of the party. He firmly believes that Nwoko’s lack of engagement with the party at ward and local government levels was his undoing.
“If Senator Ned Nwoko failed, it is because he is indifferent, nonchalant, and lackadaisical. He doesn’t care or have regard for the party. There’s no independent candidacy today in Nigeria. So for you to contest for any election, you need a platform,” he stated, underscoring the necessity of a party platform.
Why Consultation Matters in Nigerian Politics
Sochukwudinma further elaborated on the importance of consultation within the Nigerian political context. He drew a contrast between Nwoko’s approach and that of Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, the former governor.
“In the Nigerian context, we know what ‘seeing’ means. Party structure! Consultation! That is the tradition. The party where he claimed to belong: You disregard party structure, you disregard ward chairmen, local government chairmen, the leaders of the party—that same party that you desire to run an election in. And the other person who was a former governor, who was even in the Senate before you and performed, performed as a governor, has built human capital development, built men and consulted. How do you expect him not to have great turnout?” he questioned.
APC Primaries: A National Affair, Not Governor-Driven
Addressing Nwoko’s accusation that the state governor appointed the primary committee, Sochukwudinma flatly denied this. He reiterated that APC primaries are overseen by the National Working Committee (NWC), with appointments for election committees made at the national level, not influenced by state governors.
“I heard when he accused the governor falsely when he said the governor appointed the committee. That’s a lie. The National Working Committee of the party appoints those who go to conduct elections, not the governor,” he clarified.
Sportsmanship and Internal Democracy: The APC Way?
Sochukwudinma suggested that post-primary tensions often stem from a lack of sportsmanship. He shared his own experience of stepping aside for a zoned leadership position, illustrating how internal party decisions are often reached through consensus.
“It’s a lack of sportsmanship. For instance, I had desired to represent or lead my party at the state level. I consulted. But when the time came, the leaders met and felt it should be zoned to the Delta South part of our state, and I’m from Delta North. Automatically, I was out of it,” he recounted. He praised the APC as a well-organized party with strong internal democracy, citing the national convention as an example where consensus usually prevails over contestation.
No Pressure From Above, Just Desire for an Automatic Ticket
When asked about external pressure influencing the primaries, Sochukwudinma stated unequivocally, “No. There were no pressure from above.” Instead, he turned the accusation around, alleging that Senator Nwoko was the one attempting to exert pressure by demanding an “automatic ticket.”
“Where we would have even experienced pressure would have been from Senator Ned Nwoko, who believed in an ‘automatic ticket.’ He was the one who wanted to manipulate, who wanted to bring that pressure so that the people of Delta North would not make their choice,” Sochukwudinma asserted. He concluded by reaffirming that Senator Ifeanyi Okowa won the primary through a free, fair, and credible election, and would likely defeat Nwoko in any subsequent contests under the same party structure.
Source: ARISE NEWS Interview with Norbert Sochukwudinma
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