Delta APC: A Handshake With The President, A House Still Divided

The internal wrangling within the Delta State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) continues to deepen as factions struggle for dominance, raising questions about who truly leads the party in the state. A recent high-profile visit to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by a delegation of Delta APC leaders has further exposed the cracks within the party rather than presenting a united front against the opposition.

The meeting, led by Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Olorogun Festus Keyamo SAN, alongside Delta APC Chairman Elder Omeni Sobotie, the three APC Senators—Senator Ede Dafinone (Delta Central), Senator Ned Nwoko (Delta North), and Senator Joel-Onowakpo Thomas (Delta South)—as well as Hon. Francis Waive and Hon. Stella Okotete, was framed as a strategic engagement to brief Mr. President on the state of the party. However, the conspicuous absence of the immediate past Deputy Senate President, Olorogun Ovie Omo-Agege, has sparked fresh debate about the true leadership of the party in Delta.

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Traditionally, leadership within a party structure is determined by either the highest-ranking elected official, the party chairman, or, in some cases, a powerful figure who commands a strong grassroots base. While Elder Omeni Sobotie remains the official chairman, and the three APC Senators hold elective positions, Omo-Agege’s absence from this meeting cannot be ignored. As the immediate past gubernatorial flagbearer of the party and a former high-ranking principal officer in the National Assembly, Omo-Agege remains a formidable force in Delta APC.

The fact that all these individuals attended the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja together a while ago further complicates the narrative. If unity was the goal, why was Omo-Agege not part of this latest delegation to the President? Was this a deliberate move to sideline him, or did he choose to stay away? Rather than consolidating efforts to challenge the PDP’s dominance in Delta State, the APC appears more consumed by internal battles for supremacy.

Political observers see this visit as yet another power play rather than an effort at true reconciliation. The reference to “fostering internal democracy” suggests that the party is aware of its internal cracks, yet no real steps have been taken to heal the divisions. The battle for supremacy between the faction aligned with Keyamo, Sobotie, and the Senators, and the faction loyal to Omo-Agege, is far from over.

Without a strong and united front, Delta APC risks heading into the next election cycle weakened. The biggest beneficiary of this crisis is undoubtedly the opposition, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which could capitalize on the disunity to consolidate its hold on the state. Unless a decisive intervention from the national leadership of APC or the presidency compels a resolution, this factional battle is likely to drag on. Whether Omo-Agege will openly push back or adopt a more strategic approach remains to be seen, but one thing is certain—the struggle for control of Delta APC is far from over.

At this point, the leadership question in Delta APC remains unanswered. Is it the faction that secured a handshake with the President, or the one that still commands a significant grassroots following? Political optics may suggest one thing, but true leadership will be tested in the coming months as the party prepares for future elections. Until then, Delta APC remains a house divided—a dangerous position for any political party seeking victory at the polls.

Sir Divramredje Lawrence Efeturi, KSJI, ASCIEPUK

(A public affairs commentator, writes from Isoko North)