ASABA/Nigeria: Concerned Legacy APC stakeholders in Delta North Senatorial District have accused Mr. Norbert Sochukwudinma of misleading the public over the outcome of the Delta North APC congresses and primaries, insisting that his recent comments on Arise Television did not reflect the realities within the party.
The stakeholders specifically faulted Sochukwudinma’s assertion that there was no manipulation in the Delta North APC primaries and his criticism of Senator Ned Nwoko, maintaining that the claims were false and contrary to verifiable developments within the party structure.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the group described Sochukwudinma’s remarks as self-serving and alleged that they were aimed at defending what they termed a manipulated process.
The stakeholders challenged his claim that six legacy APC local government chairmen were re-elected during the congresses, insisting that only four chairmen emerged.
According to them, the local government areas were Aniocha North, Aniocha South, Oshimili North and Oshimili South.
They further alleged that even in those councils, the majority of executive members were former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members who had defected to the APC.
The group also alleged that some of the chairmen had been placed on state and local government payrolls to guarantee loyalty.
“This is not party building; it is paid submission,” the stakeholders stated.
The group further alleged that the congresses were characterised by imposition rather than democratic elections.
According to them, legacy APC members who paid for nomination forms through the official Zenith Bank account for the local government congresses were denied access to the process.
They cited the case of Nnamdi Ofonye, whom they described as a political associate of Sochukwudinma, alleging that he was denied nomination forms despite payment.
The stakeholders maintained that the process was designed to exclude legacy APC members and hand party structures to PDP defectors.
They also accused Sochukwudinma of political inconsistency, alleging that he had previously supported Senator Ned Nwoko following his defection to the APC before later reversing his position.
According to the group, such actions undermine his credibility to speak on internal party democracy.
The stakeholders also alleged that legacy APC members had been sidelined across the state.
They cited the case of Prince Rister Izedunor, described as a two-time APC candidate in 2019 and 2023, whom they claimed was excluded to pave the way for an incumbent PDP defector.
The group insisted that Sochukwudinma’s appearance on Arise Television was aimed at defending a predetermined outcome rather than promoting party democracy.
They called on the APC national leadership to investigate the conduct of the Delta North congresses and primaries and restore the party to what they described as its legacy structure.
The statement was signed by Concerned Legacy APC Stakeholders, Delta North Senatorial District.
