The Delta State Commissioner for Works, Rural Roads and Public Information, Charles Aniagwu, has attributed Senator Ned Nwoko’s defeat in the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primary to what he described as the lawmaker’s weak political connection within Delta North Senatorial District.
Speaking during an appearance on Channels Television on Thursday, Aniagwu said Nwoko allegedly failed to build grassroots support across the district’s 98 wards ahead of the primary election.
He contrasted this with the political outreach carried out by former Delta State governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, whom he said actively engaged party stakeholders throughout the district.
According to Aniagwu, Okowa secured 113,309 votes in the exercise, while Nwoko polled 2,612 votes.
His words: “Okowa actually polled 113,309 votes as against Ned Nwoko’s 2,612 votes. There is a very huge difference between internal party elections, which we call party primaries, and general elections because the sentiments are different.
“Ned Nwoko was nowhere in any of the wards, and we have 98 wards in the senatorial district made up of nine local government areas.
He never reached out to any of the leaders in these wards, let alone canvassing and informing anybody that he was coming to run in the election.
“Ned Nwoko has been in the Senate for almost three years now. Since he got to the Senate, we have about 65 traditional institutions in Delta North. Each Christmas, he does not even give them a three-month-old goat, and neither does he visit them.
“For those who are in the political circle, the 98 wards in Delta North have chairmen. He (Ned) doesn’t even know the name of any of the chairmen, including the one in his own ward.
“In the senatorial district, there are 10 commissioners, nine House of Assembly members and nine local government chairmen. Ned Nwoko did not reach out to anybody to inform them that he was going to run for election.”
Aniagwu further stated that Nwoko allegedly failed to communicate with influential figures in the district before the exercise.
“For instance, I am a commissioner in the Delta State Executive Council, and I also have the privilege of leading a ward. Ask Ned Nwoko whether he ever sent even a text message to inform me, let alone informing other leaders in my ward that he was going to run for election.
“Ned Nwoko is from Ward 8 in Aniocha North Local Government Area. Ned never even had a single meeting with members of his own ward, which is also why he lost the election even in his own ward.”
The commissioner also accused the senator of maintaining strained relationships within his community, particularly over issues involving the traditional institution.
“In his own community, where he is from, for a very long time, he never wanted the traditional ruler to be given the staff of office.”
“He was blocking it until not too long ago when the state government conferred on the traditional ruler a particular title and presented him with the staff of office.
“In his community, he has always been in perpetual battle with the people. How many people from his community has he had arrested since he became a senator? Do you expect those people he is allegedly oppressing and intimidating with his position to come out and vote for him?”
Aniagwu maintained that Okowa’s extensive consultations across Delta North gave him an edge in the primary contest.
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“When we were preparing for these primaries, he never moved anywhere. Meanwhile, Okowa was very busy crisscrossing not only the nine local governments that make up the senatorial district, but also interfacing with leaders across the board.
He was interfacing with all the political appointees. Okowa has direct contact with no fewer than 20 persons.”
He also dismissed claims that the crowd seen around Nwoko during the exercise reflected actual support from party members.
“The crowd you saw behind Ned Nwoko, of course, you noticed that it was not a queue. Ned Nwoko has a sports university in his community.
When he brought in eight different 18-seater buses, he went to that university and brought the students.
“For every ward, every local government, every federal constituency and indeed every senatorial district, the party appointed officials to organise the primaries. He was just standing in the midst of people. He was not standing in a queue.
“You will see that Okowa queued. They counted him and counted some elderly women who were sitting down.
Go and cross-check with that of Ned Nwoko, who was just standing in the midst of people and talking to the media. Nobody was counting anything.”