By Mick Oseji, Asaba
Senator representing Delta Central Senatorial District, Ede Dafinone, has emerged victorious in the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primary election for Delta Central, defeating former Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, by a wide margin.
In Delta North, former Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, also secured victory after defeating incumbent senator, Ned Nwoko, in the APC primary election.
Okowa polled 113,309 votes to defeat Nwoko, who garnered 2,612 votes, while Mariam Ali secured 40 votes.
The primaries were conducted through the direct primary system under Option A4, with voting taking place across wards in the eight local government areas of the senatorial districts. Party members reportedly turned out in large numbers for the exercise, which was described as peaceful, transparent and credible.
Announcing the Delta Central results, Secretary of the APC National Assembly Primary Committee, Barrister Nusa Amagbor, disclosed that Dafinone scored 116,252 votes, while Omo-Agege polled 3,643 votes.
Amagbor commended party members and stakeholders for maintaining peace throughout the exercise, noting that the direct primary method had consistently been adopted for APC elections in Delta State.
“Having satisfied all the requirements of our great party and having secured the highest number of valid votes cast in this primary, Senator Ede Dafinone is hereby declared the winner of the Delta Central Senatorial District primary election,” he declared.
Similarly, the returning officer for Delta North, Eugene Odo, announced that Okowa had fulfilled all party requirements and secured the highest number of lawful votes cast, thereby emerging winner of the senatorial primary.
Meanwhile, in Delta South Senatorial District, incumbent senator, Joel-Onowakpo Thomas, was reportedly leading in six out of the eight local government areas as collation continued.
INEC officials monitored the primary elections across the districts.
Reacting to his victory, Dafinone praised the conduct of the exercise and thanked APC members in Delta Central for renewing their confidence in him.
According to him, the primaries were conducted in a transparent, free and fair manner despite the highly political nature of the district.
He also extended an olive branch to Omo-Agege, urging party members to unite ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“I want to use this opportunity to call on Distinguished Senator Ovie Omo-Agege to join forces with other members of our party so that we can work together for victory in 2027 across all positions,” Dafinone said.
