Keyamo congratulates Okowa, Dafinone, Onowapo over APC senatorial primary victories in Delta

Politics

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Olorogun Festus Keyamo, has congratulated Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, Ede Dafinone and Joel-Onowapo Thomas over their victories in the recently concluded All Progressives Congress senatorial primaries in Delta State.

Okowa emerged the winner for the Delta North Senatorial District, Dafinone secured victory in Delta Central, while Joel-Onowapo Thomas won the Delta South contest.

In a statement issued on the outcome of the primaries, Keyamo described their victories as “fully deserved,” while commending the conduct of the exercise across the state.

According to the Minister, the primaries witnessed a large turnout of what he described as “organic voters and members” of the APC at ward levels in an exercise he said was largely free and fair.

“As a foundation member and leader of the APC in Delta and one of the first senatorial aspirants of the party in the state in 2013, I can state unequivocally that this is the best primary organised by the party in the state since its inception,” he said.

Keyamo called for reconciliation within the party, urging defeated aspirants and their supporters to work together ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“Now is a time for healing and reconciliation. I urge all those who have lost gallantly to embrace the victors for the unity of the party and ultimately for the victory of all our candidates at the general elections next year,” he stated.

He also advised the victorious candidates to be magnanimous in victory by accommodating their opponents and supporters within the party structure.

“There is always strength in unity,” the Minister added.

Keyamo further commended Sheriff Oborevwori for what he described as inclusive leadership in the state, while expressing confidence in the governor’s political future ahead of 2027.

The Minister also praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for promoting internal democracy within the APC and allowing what he described as a free and fair process nationwide.

“Those who ignored local and grassroots leaders and neither lobbied nor consulted them, but sought to get tickets from Abuja to impose themselves on the people, have now been brought down from their high horses,” Keyamo said.

However, the outcome of the Delta APC senatorial primaries has continued to generate controversy, with former Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, also claiming victory in the Delta Central contest.

Similarly, Ned Nwoko, who contested against Okowa in Delta North, rejected the outcome and declared himself the winner, urging his supporters to await the final decision of the party leadership in Abuja.

Meanwhile, Dafinone, during an appearance on Arise TV Morning Show on Tuesday, insisted that he won the Delta Central primary by a wide margin.

He also attributed Omo-Agege’s poor performance to what he described as the former deputy senate president’s political distancing from the ADC members in the senatorial district.