Delta ADC Guber: After Unuafe Emerges as Candidate, Faction Announces Ogboru in Parallel Exercise

By Egufe Yafugborhi & Ochuko Akuopha

ASABA – A faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Delta State chapter announced Chief Great Ovedje Ogboru as its candidate for the 2027 Delta State governorship election on Monday, following an earlier primary that had produced United Kingdom lecturer Dr. Emmanuel Unuafe as the party’s flag bearer.

Three days earlier, on 2 May, Mr. Austin Okolie, chair of ADC in Delta, announced Dr. Unuafe, a senior lecturer at Arden University, UK, as the party’s candidate after a consensus primary held at the party’s state secretariat in Asaba.

In Monday’s parallel exercise, Chairman of the Governorship Primary Election Committee, Prof. Patrick Sambo Williams, reported that Ogboru received 28,454 votes in a direct primary, while Dr. Unuafe, who had already emerged as the flag bearer the previous Friday, did not participate and was allocated only 1,183 votes.

Prof. Williams stated, “Chief Ogboru, having won more votes in the direct primary of the party, stands returned as the governorship candidate of the ADC in Delta State.”

He added, “This is the new party to take over the government in the nation. Let us encourage, galvanise and mobilise the people to vote for the party. I am very sure we will win.”

When asked about the divisions revealed by the parallel exercise, Williams declined to comment, noting that his mandate was solely to conduct the primary election and not to compare or recognise factions.

Dr. Unuafe, in a petition to the national leadership of the party, accused some leaders of “fraudulent compromise” and said, “Any purported report, declaration or outcome contrary to the consensus mandate freely given to me by ADC Delta State stakeholders must be rejected outright.”

He continued, “I did not contest any primary against Ogboru or anyone else. I don’t know where they fabricate figures to allot to me. The party held is governorship primary at the ADC Delta State Secretariat, No. 1 Midwifery Road, Okpanam Road, Asaba, Delta State 22nd May 2026. I emerged consensus candidate where Ogboru or any other opponent showed up.”

Dr. Unuafe warned, “Any attempt by any individual or group to manipulate, suppress, alter, or steal my legitimate mandate will not be tolerated, accepted, or recognised by me or my supporters.”

He called on the National Leadership of ADC to investigate the conduct of those involved and protect the party’s integrity from ridicule, corruption, and political hijack. “The party must resist every attempt by moneybags and political merchants to purchase the soul of ADC in Delta State,” he added.

He concluded, “The mandate overwhelmingly given to me by the stakeholders of ADC Delta State must be protected and upheld in the interest of justice, equity, credibility, and democratic integrity. I respectfully remind the leadership of our great party that history will judge every action taken at this critical moment. ADC cannot afford to preach change and integrity publicly while allowing impunity, bribery, intimidation, and manipulation internally.”

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