The leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State has refuted claims that former Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, has been officially recognized as the leader of the party in the state. This clarification was contained in a statement issued on Friday by the Delta State APC Publicity Secretary, Valentine Onojeghuo.
The statement was a direct rebuttal to comments made by the APC National Publicity Secretary, Barr. Felix Morka, regarding the party’s leadership in Delta State.
Onojeghuo stated, “Barr. Morka’s unilateral statement that Senator Ovie Omo-Agege is the leader of the APC in Delta State is not only false and insensitive to the collective efforts of Party stakeholders working tirelessly to grow the Party, but it is also entirely unfounded and does not reflect the official position of the Party in Delta State.”
He emphasized that the National Publicity Secretary lacks the authority to unilaterally declare any individual as the leader of the APC in Delta State, describing Morka’s comments as “personal ramblings.”
“For the avoidance of doubt, the position of State Party leader is neither stipulated in the APC constitution nor subject to appointment by any individual, including the National Publicity Secretary. At the moment, Delta APC has not officially recognized Senator Omo-Agege as the leader of the Party in the State,” Onojeghuo clarified.
The Delta APC spokesperson criticized Morka’s statement as a reflection of his lack of understanding of the political realities in Delta State and the party’s commitment to unity and progress.
“Barrister Felix Morka’s statement reflects a lack of understanding of the political realities in Delta APC and the genuine desire of Party members to foster unity and progress. His attempt to impose a leader on the Party, in disregard of the roles and contributions of other critical stakeholders who have worked diligently to advance the Party’s fortunes in the State, is, to say the least, lamentable,” he said.
Onojeghuo reiterated that the Delta State APC remains committed to building a formidable, inclusive, and progressive political platform. He warned against divisive declarations that could derail the party’s collective efforts.
“We will not allow such divisive and whimsical declarations to derail our collective efforts. We call on all Party members to disregard the misleading claim and remain focused on strengthening our Party ahead of future political engagements.
“While we acknowledge the contributions of all stakeholders, including Senator Omo-Agege, the leadership of Delta APC remains a collective responsibility, guided by due process and internal democracy.”
He also urged the national leadership of the APC to restrain Barr. Morka from making inflammatory statements that could destabilize the party.
“It is regrettable that, lately, the National Publicity Secretary, Barr. Morka, has chosen to make such arrogant and condescending pronouncements, which are not only misleading but also insensitive to the structures and principles that govern our Party.
“The APC in Delta State operates under a democratic framework, where leadership is a collective and collaborative process, not the arbitrary declaration of any national officer.
“Barr. Morka’s comments are not only inappropriate but also capable of causing unnecessary tension and division within our Party. At a time when unity is paramount, we strongly advise him against making inflammatory statements that could destabilize the Party and distract us from our collective goal of strengthening the APC in Delta State.”
Onojeghuo concluded by calling on all party members to disregard the unauthorized declaration and remain focused on building a stronger and more inclusive APC in Delta State.
DAILY MENTOR reports that the Delta APC’s statement underscores the party’s commitment to internal democracy and unity, while also highlighting the need for national party officials to respect state structures and avoid actions that could create divisions. The clarification aims to ensure that the party remains focused on its goals and avoids unnecessary distractions ahead of future political engagements.