A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State and two-time member of the Delta State House of Assembly, Hon. Efe Ofobruku, has decried what he described as a “takeover mentality” by some former members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who recently defected to the APC, warning that the crisis rocking the party, if not properly managed, could be disastrous ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking during an interview on TVC’s Politics Tonight, Ofobruku said the APC in Delta was stable until the recent influx of defectors from the PDP, alleging that some of the newcomers have attempted to “hijack” the party’s structure and sideline long-standing members.
“Our party, the APC, was stable until the influx of these people from the PDP,” he stated. “They came in behaving as though they had conquered territory — as if the party now belongs to them. They are attempting to hijack everything and trample on those of us who built the party.”
Ofobruku, who represented Uvwie Constituency in the State Assembly, accused certain former PDP members of orchestrating what he called “kangaroo suspensions” and “illegal removals” of APC officials in some local government areas, including Ughelli North and Ethiope West, without following due process.
“Some persons who are already eyeing elective offices in 2027, with the support of these new entrants, suddenly met and announced the suspension of APC chairmen in Ughelli North and Ethiope West. That is unlawful. You cannot come into a party and start removing people you met there,” he said.
The APC stalwart maintained that the party’s constitution and the Nigerian Constitution both guarantee fair hearing before any disciplinary action can be taken against members, lamenting that the disregard for due process was creating unnecessary tension at the grassroots.
“Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution provides for fair hearing. What we see in Delta APC today are kangaroo activities. These actions will only overheat the system,” he warned.
Ofobruku insisted that the Delta APC was vibrant and united before the defection of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and his supporters from the PDP, describing the party at the time as “a premiership team.”
“Anyone who says Delta APC was weak before Governor Oborevwori and his team joined is not being truthful. They left the PDP because APC was the more formidable platform,” he noted. “We welcomed them in good faith because politics is a game of numbers, but they must integrate properly and respect existing structures.”
He cautioned that name-dropping and factionalism—especially involving the names of President Bola Tinubu and former Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege—were deepening divisions within the party.
“Some people are dropping the names of the President and the former Deputy Senate President to claim control of the party. This is unhealthy for a political family that wants to win in 2027,” Ofobruku said.
The former lawmaker dismissed claims that Senator Omo-Agege was behind the current turmoil, describing him as a peace-loving leader who worked tirelessly to build the party.
“The former Deputy Senate President never asked anyone to ferment trouble. He welcomed the governor into the APC. People are only using his name to justify their actions,” he said.
Ofobruku also faulted the state leadership of the APC for failing to manage the integration of the new members, accusing it of taking sides and endorsing illegal suspensions without hearing from affected parties.
“The leadership of the party at the state level has failed to properly integrate the new entrants with old members. They should be the ones creating a bridge, not widening the divide,” he said.
He alleged that some of the crises were politically motivated by individuals with ambitions for 2027, citing meetings allegedly convened in the homes of top APC figures, such as Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, which resulted in purported removals of local government chairmen.
“It is wrong for anyone to use his home as a venue for such illegality. Some of these leaders are doing it to gain political advantage ahead of 2027,” he added.
The APC leader called for calm, dialogue, and internal reconciliation across the party, urging that all disputes be settled amicably and that those involved in forgery or illegal suspension of party officers be sanctioned.
“We must not allow politics to divide us. After the elections, we will still live together as brothers and sisters. Let’s resolve these issues now before Congress. The defectors have made 2027 easier for us — but only if we work together,” Ofobruku appealed.
He also suggested that former Governor James Ibori, whom he described as “the political father of all Delta leaders,” could help mediate the crisis.
“Chief Ibori knows everyone — from the current governor to former governors and lawmakers. He can help us reconcile because all of us came from his political school of thought,” he said.
Ofobruku concluded by reaffirming his commitment to unity within the APC, urging members at all levels to prioritise dialogue, fairness, and mutual respect over personal ambition.
“There is only one APC in Delta State. Those who have joined us must understand that they came into a party that already had structure and leadership. The sooner we accept that reality and work together, the stronger we will be going into 2027.”
