“I Was Promised Automatic Ticket” – Ned Nwoko Accuses APC Of Betrayal

Senator representing Delta North senatorial district, Ned Nwoko has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of betrayal and reneging on its promise to give him an automatic ticket.

It was recalled that in the party primaries on May 18, the former Governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa, scored 113,309 votes to beat Nwoko, who scored just 2,612 votes.

Nwoko, in an interview on ARISE Television’s ‘Prime Time’ programme, disclosed that an automatic ticket was one of the entreaties offered by the APC to woo him and facilitate his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Nwoko expressed surprise at the loss, noting that he was given repeated assurances by former APC chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, that he would be the party’s candidate in the 2027 general elections.

The Senator further alleged that the May 18 election was rigged in favour of Okowa stressing that there is evidence to prove that he was the rightful winner of the polls.

“I was definitely told before I came into the party that there would be an automatic ticket for me,” he said. Why would I just leave like that without making sure I have a safe ride?

“I and others were told that there would be discussions on the new structure of the party, and we believed there would be some power-sharing formula. We had meetings with leaders of the party and we were assured that there would be some sharing formula, power sharing formula. We were even told, for example, that the state EXCO would be dissolved and that there would be nominations to allow the old APC to get a foothold into the government.

“We won the primary. All Ifeanyi Okowa did was to present proof of just one ward where there was a problem. I was present. I have evidence. I’ve got the video. You cannot make an innocent person say, I am guilty. Impossible. We won in the primary in 98 wards. No, I could not have gained his ward. It would be a foolhardy thing for me to think I would win his ward.”