Former Delta State governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, has reasserted his influence in Delta politics after defeating incumbent senator, Ned Nwoko, to secure the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial ticket for Delta North ahead of the 2027 general election.
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The result of Monday’s primary election has already triggered fresh political conversations across the state, with many party members describing it as a major shift in Delta’s political structure.
Okowa defeated Nwoko and another aspirant, Dr Maryam Ali, in the exercise conducted across the district’s nine local government areas.
Announcing the results, APC Returning Officer, Prof. Johnbull Tonukari, said Okowa polled 113,309 votes to emerge winner. Nwoko secured 2,612 votes, while Ali got 40 votes.
But beyond the figures, the contest exposed a growing power struggle within the APC in Delta North and raised fresh questions about the future of Nwoko’s political camp.
For many observers, the biggest shock came from Nwoko’s own local government area, where the serving senator was defeated by a wide margin.
Okowa polled 5,480 votes in the area, while Nwoko secured 1,343 votes.
As the results filtered in on Monday evening, celebrations broke out in parts of Delta North, especially in Okowa’s political base, where supporters gathered around party offices and major streets, chanting victory songs and praising the former governor’s return to frontline politics.
Some delegates said the outcome reflected Okowa’s longstanding political network across the district.
“Whether people like him or not, Okowa still controls a strong structure in Delta North,” a party delegate in Asaba said shortly after the results were announced.
Another APC supporter described the result as a sign that many party members preferred experience and political stability ahead of the 2027 elections.
The scale of the victory became clearer as results from the councils were announced one after another.
In Ndokwa East, Okowa polled 9,436 votes, while Nwoko got 79 votes and Ali secured 15 votes.
In Ika South, the former governor recorded 9,763 votes against Nwoko’s 19 votes.
Okowa also dominated in Oshimili North with 13,110 votes, while Nwoko secured 287 votes.
In Ukwuani, Okowa polled 12,167 votes against Nwoko’s 105 votes.
The former governor extended his lead in Aniocha South and Oshimili South, polling 10,353 and 11,616 votes respectively.
In Ika North East, considered Okowa’s political stronghold, he delivered his highest numbers in the primary with 26,185 votes. Nwoko polled only 24 votes in the council.
The final result from Ndokwa West further widened the margin, with Okowa securing 15,199 votes while Nwoko polled 513 votes.
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Tonukari described the exercise as peaceful and orderly across the district.
Following the announcement, APC National Working Committee leader in Delta State, Mr Eugene Odo, formally declared Okowa winner of the primary election.
Odo commended party members and security officials for ensuring a smooth process throughout the exercise.
“Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa is hereby declared winner, having scored the highest lawful votes cast in this peaceful and credible primary election,” he said.
Nwoko had not publicly reacted to the outcome as of the time this report was filed, although some of his supporters were seen discussing the result in small groups after the announcement.
For years, Okowa remained one of the most influential figures in the PDP and served as governor of Delta State from 2015 to 2023. He was also the PDP vice-presidential candidate in the 2023 presidential election alongside former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
His victory in the APC primary now places him at the centre of another major political contest as attention gradually shifts toward the 2027 elections.
To many supporters, Monday’s result was not just about winning a party ticket. It was a battle for political relevance between two influential figures in Delta North — and by the end of the exercise, Okowa had firmly taken control of the contest
