Ministerial Slot: :Delta North APC decry marginalisation, wants Okotete replaced

…alleges denial of political offices in Delta

By Tunde Opalana

Delta North chapter of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have lamented what was described as continued exclusion of from political representation and party positions in the state.

The Delta North APC references to the composition of President Bola Tinubu’s ministerial nominees, party’s current and previous governorship candidates, state party Chairmanship, amongst other positions.

The Chapter decried the fact that despite securing massive numbers of votes for President Tinubu and APC in the 2023 presidential election, the zone was excluded from the ministerial slots while Delta Central which has always enjoyed political patronage were ceded two ministerial slots.

Urging Tinubu and APC national leadership to address the anomaly, the zone’s party chairman, Engr. Tom Onal in a letter on Friday stated that since the establishment of the APC in Delta State, only persons from Central Senatorial district have contested gubernatorial elections , namely; Olorogun Ortega, Chief Great Ogboru, Senator Ovie Omo Agege , et the party has failed in all attempts.

Additionally, the zone alluded to the fact that the state’s party chairman,Omeni Sobotie is from Delta Central zone as well as the Delta State’s ministerial nominees, Festus Keyamo and Stella Okotete, all of them hailing from Urhobo ethnic nationality.

In a letter signed by the Chairman and other party chieftains addressed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume and the Chief of Staff to the President, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, the party Chapter asked President Tinubu to replace Stella Okotete whose clearance has been pending by the Senate with its own candidate from Delta North.

The chapter condemned as unjust, agitations for more positions by the immediate past Deputy Senate President despite the fact that the two ministerial nominees for Delta State are from Delta Central, stressing that it is unjust and does not reflect equity and fairness.

The party chapter pledged loyalty and support to the Tinubu administration’s economic policies, however said thy it is troubling that

The statement read in parts; ” We would like to bring to your attention the painful position of our great Party the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state and the lopsided appointment of Ministers of the Federal Republic.
“With the current political dispensation, the forthcoming elections in 2027 present yet another bright opportunity for our party to not only take over the leadership of the state but to produce maximum votes for your reelection.

“It is pertinent to note that equity, fairness, and justice remain the hallmarks of any Political leadership, unfortunately, sir that is not the case in the distribution of Political leadership offices across the three Senatorial districts of Delta State.

“Delta State has three Senatorial districts namely: Delta Central, Delta North, and Delta South. The central district is predominantly the Urhobo ethnic Nationality, the North district is made up of the Aniocha/Oshimili, Ika, and Ndokwa ethnic nations otherwise known as the Aniomas, while the Southern District has a combination of the Ijaws, Isokos, and Itsekiri ethnic Nationalities.

“Surprisingly, since the inception of the APC, only Delta Central has consistently contested the Gubernatorial elections in Delta, despite the unwritten zoning arrangement that has become a custom in Delta state across all political lines. Delta North and South have had to struggle to get anything.

“It might interest you to know that Delta Central (Urhobo) has produced the Ministerial nominee in the person of Festus Keyamo, Stella Okotete who is currently uncleared, the Governorship candidate, Ovie Omo-Agege and the Chairman of the Party, Omeni Sobotie while Delta North and Delta South are left bare.

The state chapter urged Tinubu to help the zone from going into political oblivion, promising that if they were considered for the Ministerial position they will utilise its benefits in the overall interest of the Party in the 2027 General elections.

Omeni said ; “Now that the ministerial nominee has been found unqualified both at the National Assembly and the security agencies, we urge the party to seriously consider Delta North to take the place of the Uncleared candidate.

“It is perhaps a deliberate attempt to suppress Delta North people. This realization begins to crop up given the several abnormalities exhibited toward giving Delta North her rightful place. For instance, three Presidential campaigns have taken place in Delta State since the creation of APC, all three(2015, 2019 & 2023), none held at the State Capital as it should have rightly been done, they were all held in Warri, Delta Central Senatorial district.

“If we go by the plethora of neglect and disregard shown to the people of Delta North by the APC, one is right to conclude that the party is deliberately arm-twisting the party in the district. Politics as we all know is a game that thrives when people are carried along and treated fairly. The party in the state will remain at a stunted level if this obvious imbalance is not addressed. A lot of committed party faithful from the district are sadly feeling a sense of abandonment and rejection, thereby weakening their zeal and loyalty.

Giving a static analysis, Delta North APC said having scored 245,138 after Delta Central with 268,658 and Delta South with 153,353 it deserved a slice of Political leadership offices.

It further informed Tinubu of the three Presidential campaigns that have taken place in Delta State since the creation of APC, all three(2015, 2019 & 2023), none held at the State Capital as it should have rightly been done, they were all held in Warri, Delta Central Senatorial district.

Others who co-signed the letter are ; Coordinator Independent Campaign Council, Aliekwue Simon Onyeka Ika and Chairman Oshimili North LGA Hon Emeka Ikenyen.