Lawmaker representing Delta-North Senatorial District, Ned Nwoko has slammed the All Progressive Congress (APC) for denying him an automatic ticket as allegedly promised by the party.
NPO Reported that Nwoko was last week denied a return ticket to the Senate as he was defeated at the APC Senatorial primaries by former governor of the state, Ifeanyi Okowa.
Reflecting on the election result in an interview on Arise TV’s Prime Time programme on Monday, Nwoko, who alongside other PDP leaders defected to the APC last year, said that they were initially assured of inclusion in the party’s leadership structure and government appointments by the then APC national chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje.
“I, myself, and others were promised that there would be discussions on the new structure of the party, and we believed that there would be some power sharing formula,
“We were told, for example, that the state executive would be dissolved and there would be nominations to enable the old APC to get a foothold into the government, but that was never done.” He said.
Nwoko also stated that he was promised an automatic ticket prior to joining the APC but later had to participate in the standard competitive primary process, which he described as a departure from earlier assurances.
“I certainly was told before I came into the party that there would be automatic ticket for me, and why would I just leave like that without making sure that I have a secure ride?” He said.
Speaking further on the primaries, Ned Nwoko insisted that he had evidence of victory in several wards and maintained that he was confident in his position, despite disputes over the outcome.
“We won in 98 wards. All that Ifeanyi Okowa did was just to throw evidence of one ward where there was an issue.” The lawmaker added.