The crisis rocking the Delta State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) deepened on Wednesday as prominent Urhobo leader and former Special Adviser on Health to Delta State Governor, Professor Rukevwe Ugwumba, announced her resignation from the party.
Ugwumba, a loyal ally of former Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, blamed her decision on what she described as injustice, political marginalisation and the failure of the party to reward those who laboured for its growth in Delta State.
In a strongly-worded resignation letter addressed to the Chairman of APC Uwheru Ward 9 in Ughelli North Local Government Area, the former governorship aide said recent developments in the party, particularly the controversial senate primaries in Delta State, convinced her that the interests of the Urhobo people could no longer be protected within the APC.
Speaking from Dubai, where she is currently on a business trip, Ugwumba disclosed that her decision came after extensive consultations with Omo-Agege and other political stakeholders from Delta Central and beyond.
According to her, the political aspirations of the Urhobo nation, comprising 23 kingdoms and eight local government areas, had allegedly been sacrificed in favour of a privileged few within the party.
“I have decided that we are better served outside the APC, considering our experiences as a people,” she declared.
The former Delta State Health Adviser expressed gratitude to Omo-Agege, whom she described as the “Obarisi of Urhoboland,” for his leadership and political direction over the years.
She commended the former Deputy Senate President for what she termed his wisdom and courage in exiting the APC at a critical moment, insisting that history would vindicate his actions.
“History will mark this day as the beginning of a new dawn, and we hail Obarisi once again as the man who saw tomorrow,” she stated.
Ugwumba lamented that despite the enormous resources, energy and time she invested in building the APC in Delta State, neither she nor her supporters received recognition or political reward from the party.
She noted that party loyalists who worked tirelessly during the 2023 general elections, especially in Delta State where the sitting governor contested as a vice-presidential candidate, had been unfairly sidelined.
“This was the easiest decision for me to make today, having waited for my principal, to whom I remain loyal — a loyalty that is sacred to me personally,” she added.
The APC chieftain further said millions of Deltans had endured disappointment and political frustration due to what she called hidden agendas and unfair treatment within the party structure.
She, however, expressed optimism that Delta Central and the wider Delta State would “regain their pride of place” ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Ugwumba concluded her letter by requesting the immediate removal of her name from all APC membership registers.
Her resignation is expected to further intensify political realignments in Delta State ahead of the 2027 elections, especially following growing discontent among loyalists of Omo-Agege within the APC.
