Senator Ned Nwoko has reacted strongly after his defeat in the All Progressives Congress (APC) Delta North senatorial primary, insisting that he was initially assured of an automatic ticket before joining the party.
Former Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, was declared winner of the primary after securing 113,309 votes, while Senator Ned Nwoko and Maryam Ali reportedly polled 2,612 and 40 votes respectively.
Nwoko rejected the outcome, alleging irregularities and manipulation during the exercise.
Speaking in an interview on Prime Time, he explained that certain understandings were reached before he joined the APC regarding party structure and inclusion.
He said; “I, myself, and others were promised that there would be discussions on the new structure of the party, and we believed that there would be some… power sharing formula. We were told, for example, that the state executive would be dissolved and there would be nominations to enable the old APC to get a foothold into the government, but that was never done.”
He further maintained that he was promised an automatic ticket before joining the party, but later had to go through a competitive primary process.
“I certainly was told before I came into the party that there would be automatic ticket for me, and why would I just leave like that without making sure that I have a secure ride?”
On the conduct of the primaries, Nwoko insisted he had evidence of victory in several wards and maintained confidence in his position despite the disputed outcome.
“We won in 98 wards. All that Ifeanyi Okowa did was just to throw evidence of one ward where there was an issue.”
Click the link to watch the video.
Here are some of the reactions:
Anthony Abakporo (@ant…): Senator Ned Nwoko is a comedian 🤣🙄. So he came to national TV to say this ?
DG_Krypt (@dg_krypt): Senator Ned Nwoko is now crying after losing the Senate ticket. Everyone is making Daddy cry. I blame Regina Daniel
APCHater (@rednineking): was promised an automatic ticket before joined the APC but was deceived.
FiReFLY🔥🦟 (@getKenn…): You’re a fool. At your age, people are still deceiving you. What a colossal fool. How did that small girl (Regina) end up with you? I know you know how to arrest person, come and look for me, I may use you to cash out.
Funguy (@UTDFunguy): How e come be now Shey you done burst enter cry hand done touch you instead of you to join in rebuilding the country you chose to joined in finishing it kpata kpata
Pedro John (@donpedro4ja): You mean to help you rig election, because on a normal day you can’t win shit. Thief
Fatalist (@FatalistB): All the promises you made to your constituents, how many have you fulfilled? More like having a little taste of the medicine you give ur people
ENUGU FIRST SON (@chi…): I only rate you because of Anioma state But you saying this is an act of cowardice
Debs MH👑 (@TheonlyDebs): All these politicians will cry tire. They haven’t seen anything yet. Is that the focus we need right now as a country? They just care about the election. All the crisis the country is facing now, no active solutions has been created.
Lawson . o . Lawson (@db…): This man go be class captain when him young , him go dey report everybody to teachers 🙄 lol laugh want tear my pant . Una never see anything.
Tzalmon (@tonyezalmon): When politicians have this idea of an automatic ticket, it becomes clear why they don’t work. They consider the position to be an award for party men, and not obligated to serve their people
mekxy007 ‘obi-dient’ Fasci… (@mekxy…): A for Automatic L for loser. You guys are supporting the Evil that have befallen you. Karma is no longer a future thing
Sadeeq (@serdeeq_Sq): Automatic ticket wey turn to automatic betrayal. Ned, you left PDP thinking APC na ATM, now e don dispense sorry, try again later. Welcome to the club sir, Naija politicians dey harvest the same thing wey dem sow. How market?
Chiedozie Onyeke (@Chied…): But you said you joined because of the transformative government of Mr president. Stand one place sir.
Aproko Senator (@aproko_s…): They promised gold to make him switch, A ticket safe, a loyal pitch. He crossed the floor, believed the lie, Now watches power wave goodbye.