The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State has triggered widespread political reactions following the release of its House of Assembly screening report, which saw the disqualification of the leader of the state House and six other sitting lawmakers, even as 46 out of 82 aspirants were cleared to proceed.
Topping the list of disqualified aspirants is the Leader of the Delta State House of Assembly and member representing Aniocha North, Emeka Nwobi.
Key Highlights:
Others affected include Oboro Preyor (Bomadi), Bernard Odior (Isoko North), Bino Obawomano (Isoko South I), Frank Esenwah (Oshimili North), Emmanuel Sinebe (Patani), and Fred Martins (Warri North).
The exclusion of the incumbent legislators has significantly altered the political landscape within the party, given their influence and established grassroots networks.
The screening outcome, which cleared just 46 of the 82 aspirants, has raised questions among stakeholders about the transparency and underlying considerations that shaped the process, particularly in light of emerging claims of internal arrangements.
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Meanwhile, five sitting lawmakers reportedly opted not to seek re-election, having declined to purchase nomination forms.
Those said to have stayed away include Spencer Ohwofa (Ughelli North II), Collins Egbetamah (Udu), Charles Emetulu (Ndokwa West), Festus Okoh (Ika North), and Blessing Achoja (Ethiope West).
Their decision is believed to be connected to an alleged consensus understanding within the party that predetermined candidates in certain constituencies.
A source within the party disclosed that affected aspirants were earlier advised not to purchase nomination forms, as a consensus framework had already been adopted which did not favour them.
According to the source, defiance of this directive was to be interpreted as opposition to party leadership, with potential political consequences.
This assertion, while not officially confirmed, gains traction when juxtaposed with the final screening outcomes.
Notably, a purported consensus list had earlier circulated widely on social media but was publicly disowned by the Delta APC through its State Publicity Secretary, Valentine Onojeghuo.
However, a comparative analysis of that viral list and the screening results reveals a strong correlation: a significant proportion of those omitted from the alleged consensus arrangement ultimately emerged among the disqualified aspirants.
This alignment reinforces a growing perception that the screening exercise functioned less as a merit-based filtration process and more as an enforcement mechanism for pre-existing political decisions.
It also lends credence to earlier reports suggesting that the announcement of primaries and the denial of any consensus agreement may have been tactical—designed to manage aspirant expectations and limit defections until the political window closed.
Efforts to obtain reactions from some of the affected lawmakers were ongoing as of press time. A message sent to Emeka Nwobi, the House leader, was not responded to as at the time of filing this report.
As consultations intensify among affected stakeholders, attention is turning to possible appeals and the broader implications for party unity.
Analysts say the APC’s ability to manage the fallout from the screening exercise will be critical to maintaining cohesion and strengthening its position ahead of the 2027 general elections in Delta State.
