The Delta State Commissioner for Works, Rural Roads and Public Information, Charles Aniagwu, has claimed that Senator Ned Nwoko lost the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election due to lack of grassroots political engagement and weak connections within Delta North Senatorial District.
Aniagwu made the remarks during a televised interview, where he contrasted Nwoko’s political approach with that of former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, who reportedly won the primary by a wide margin.
According to the commissioner, Okowa secured 113,309 votes compared to Nwoko’s 2,612 votes, attributing the difference to stronger consultations and wider engagement across wards and political structures in the senatorial district.
He alleged that Okowa spent time engaging political leaders across all nine local government areas in Delta North, while Nwoko was largely absent from local political consultations and community-level engagements ahead of the election.
Aniagwu further claimed that Nwoko did not maintain strong ties with ward leaders, traditional institutions, and other political stakeholders in his constituency, suggesting this contributed to his poor performance in the primary.
He also alleged that the former senator’s relationship with some local communities had been strained over time, which may have affected his support base during the internal party contest.
In contrast, he described Okowa’s campaign approach as more structured and grassroots-driven, involving consistent engagement with party officials, community leaders, and stakeholders across the district.
The commissioner also commented on campaign organization at the primary, alleging differences in how both candidates presented their supporters during the exercise.
