The All Progressives Congress (APC), Delta State chapter, has strongly rejected allegations by the Ogharefe Council of Chiefs and Elders concerning the conduct of the Ethiope West Local Government Congress held on February 21, 2026, describing the claims as misleading and politically motivated.
In a statement issued by the State Publicity Secretary, Valentine Onojeghuo (Esq.), the party maintained that the congress was peaceful, orderly, and conducted strictly in line with party constitutional provisions and guidelines approved by the National Working Committee. He noted that the exercise was monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), with no officially reported incidents of violence or disruption linked to the party.
Onojeghuo dismissed the Council’s characterization of the exercise as a “near-war situation,” calling it “political fiction and jaundiced imagination designed to malign the image of our party and create unnecessary panic within Ethiope West.” He added that the APC would not allow “baseless propaganda to substitute for facts.”
The party further emphasized its constitutional right to determine the venue and procedures of its internal activities, explaining that the decision to hold the congress at Ovade Community in Oghara was made by appropriate party organs based on administrative and security considerations. “No external body — traditional or otherwise — has the authority to dictate or veto internal party decisions,” the statement stressed.
While reaffirming its zero tolerance for violence, the APC stated that no legitimate member was denied participation except those who failed to comply with standard accreditation procedures. The party described claims of exclusion as “dishonest and intentionally misleading,” arguing that they were rooted in the refusal of some individuals to follow due process.
The statement also expressed concern over what it described as a partisan undertone in the Council’s position. According to Onojeghuo, “The tone, timing and content strongly suggest that the Council has allowed itself to be drawn into partisan politics,” warning that traditional institutions risk eroding their moral authority if perceived as tools in political struggles.
The APC noted that no formal complaint was lodged through the party’s internal dispute resolution channels before the public statement was issued. It urged stakeholders to pursue grievances through lawful mechanisms rather than “inflammatory press statements designed to generate controversy.”
Reaffirming its respect for traditional institutions, the party maintained that such respect must be mutual. “Political party administration is not within the jurisdiction of traditional councils. Any continued interference will be viewed as unwarranted intrusion into constitutionally protected political processes,” the statement concluded.
The Delta APC called on the public to disregard what it described as attempts to manufacture crisis, reiterating its commitment to unity, internal democracy, and peaceful political engagement across the state.
