Against the backdrop of recent political developments in Delta Central and in furtherance of our commitment to peace, unity, and democratic values, the All Progressives Congress (APC), Uvwie Chapter, hereby presents this position.
This statement is issued to set the record straight, reaffirm the character of our people, and call on all political actors to engage responsibly as we approach the 2027 general elections.
The Delta Central APC Synergy Summit held on Sunday, 26th July 2026, at the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI) Conference Centre, Effurun, marked an important moment in the evolving political landscape of Delta State. It was not merely another political symposium. It represented a deliberate effort by party leaders, elected officials, grassroots mobilisers, and stakeholders to review political realities, strengthen internal cohesion, and prepare strategically for the 2027 general elections. The Summit reflected one of the defining characteristics of representative democracy: the freedom of citizens and political parties to assemble peacefully, exchange ideas, and organise lawfully for electoral competition.
Political gatherings of this nature should ordinarily be viewed as healthy expressions of democratic participation. Democracy flourishes when competing political parties organise, debate, persuade, and present themselves before the electorate. It is through this process that citizens evaluate competing visions for governance and ultimately determine who deserves the mandate to lead. Every political party, irrespective of ideological persuasion, enjoys this constitutional right, and every responsible political actor carries a corresponding duty to protect, rather than undermine, peaceful democratic engagement.
The significance of the Delta Central Synergy Summit extended beyond its impressive attendance. The meeting brought together critical stakeholders to consolidate unity, harmonise political structures, and articulate a shared commitment to the APC's 5/5 electoral agenda for 2027. Such gatherings communicate organisational discipline, strategic coordination, and political confidence. In democratic politics, these are not merely symbolic achievements; they are practical demonstrations of a party's capacity to mobilise support and prepare responsibly for electoral competition.
It is precisely because political organisation carries electoral implications that such events naturally attract public attention. A peaceful, orderly, and well-coordinated Summit signals institutional maturity. It projects stability, internal cohesion, and leadership. Political observers understand that organisation often precedes electoral competitiveness. Consequently, moments that demonstrate unity inevitably become politically significant, not only to supporters but also to political competitors.
The proceedings of the Synergy Summit were conducted publicly and attracted national media attention. Broadcast coverage provided the wider public with the opportunity to observe the deliberations and assess the atmosphere for themselves. The public record therefore becomes an important point of reference whenever conflicting narratives emerge regarding events surrounding the meeting.
It is against this background that reports of violence associated with the wider PTI environment generated understandable public concern. Violence, wherever it occurs, deserves unequivocal condemnation. No democratic society benefits when intimidation, disorder, or criminal conduct overshadows lawful political participation. Political disagreement must never become an excuse for violence, regardless of the identity of those involved.
At the same time, democratic responsibility requires restraint in assigning blame. The rule of law demands that allegations be investigated thoroughly by competent security agencies before conclusions are drawn. Public confidence in democratic institutions is strengthened when investigations are impartial, evidence-based, and free from partisan interference. Conversely, premature accusations risk deepening political division and undermining public trust in due process.
Political logic nevertheless invites careful reflection on incentives. The central question is, therefore, straightforward: Who had the greatest interest in ensuring that the Synergy Summit succeeded peacefully? The organisers, the host, the invited stakeholders, and the party leadership all had a direct political interest in conducting a successful meeting. Their collective objective was to strengthen unity, refine strategy, and build momentum ahead of future electoral contests. Disruption would have undermined these objectives rather than advanced them.
This reasoning becomes particularly relevant when considering the responsibilities of the host. Hon. Chief Anthony Onoriode Ofoni (JP), as Executive Chairman of Uvwie Local Government Council and host of the Synergy Summit, bore institutional responsibility for facilitating a peaceful engagement. His political reputation, organisational credibility, and leadership standing were directly connected to the orderly conduct of the event. It would therefore be inconsistent with ordinary political rationality to suggest that a host would intentionally undermine an event designed to reinforce both his leadership and his party's strategic objectives.
Politics, by its nature, is driven by incentives. Rational political actors seek outcomes that maximise political advantage while minimising reputational damage. The deliberate disruption of one's own strategic gathering would produce precisely the opposite result. Such an outcome would weaken organisational credibility, erode public confidence, and diminish political momentum. Logic therefore requires that any explanation of surrounding events be assessed carefully against these fundamental political realities rather than against speculation or emotionally charged narratives.
The good people of Uvwie are peace-loving and accommodating. Uvwie has a long-standing reputation for hospitality, tolerance, and peaceful coexistence. We do not condone violence, intimidation, or disorder. The values of our people are rooted in unity, mutual respect, and the belief that political differences should be settled through dialogue and the ballot, not through fear or conflict.
Democratic accountability provides the proper framework for evaluating political competition. Ultimately, governments are judged not by slogans or propaganda but by measurable performance. Roads either improve connectivity or they do not. Public infrastructure either enhances economic activity or it does not. Employment opportunities either expand or remain stagnant. Public services either improve citizens' lives or they fail to do so. These are objective standards against which every administration is assessed by the electorate.
This is why mature democracies encourage issue-based campaigns. Political parties seeking electoral support should present evidence of their achievements, articulate coherent policy alternatives, and persuade citizens through reasoned argument. The legitimacy of democratic competition depends upon the free exchange of ideas rather than the manufacture of fear or confusion.
When public discourse shifts from governance to misinformation, personal abuse, or sensationalism, the quality of democratic debate deteriorates. Citizens become distracted from substantive questions concerning development, public administration, economic management, healthcare, education, and infrastructure. Political discourse should elevate public understanding rather than diminish it.
We therefore call on opposition parties to desist from campaigns of violence, bitterness, hatred, and misinformation. If they are sincere about seeking the mandate of the people in 2027, they should focus on real issues: governance, development, job creation, healthcare, education, and infrastructure. Elections are won through ideas, performance, and persuasion—not through propaganda or attempts to create division among our people.
Equally concerning is the normalisation of inflammatory political language. Democracy does not require hostility to function effectively. Strong political disagreement can coexist with mutual respect for constitutional institutions, lawful political participation, and peaceful civic engagement. Political opponents should challenge one another through superior ideas and demonstrable competence, not through rhetoric that deepens social division.
The Constitution guarantees every registered political party the right to assemble peacefully, organise politically, and campaign lawfully. These constitutional protections exist not for the benefit of one political party alone but for the protection of democracy itself. Every attack on peaceful political participation weakens democratic institutions, irrespective of the immediate political beneficiary.
The people of Delta State deserve a political culture that rewards evidence, competence, and accountability. Electoral mandates should emerge from informed public judgement rather than manipulated narratives. Citizens are increasingly capable of distinguishing between political communication grounded in demonstrable performance and narratives constructed to generate emotional reactions. Respect for the electorate requires confidence in their capacity to evaluate competing claims critically.
The APC has consistently maintained that its electoral appeal rests upon organisation, governance, and performance. Whether voters ultimately endorse that position remains entirely within the sovereign discretion of the electorate. That is the essence of democracy. Political confidence should always be tested at the ballot box rather than through intimidation or attempts to delegitimise lawful political activities.
Equally, opposition parties perform an indispensable role within every democratic system. Their responsibility is to scrutinise government, offer constructive alternatives, and persuade voters that they represent a better choice. This constitutional role is strengthened when criticism is evidence-based, policy-oriented, and respectful of democratic norms. Robust opposition enhances democracy, while attempts to replace persuasion with hostility ultimately weaken the democratic process itself.
The unfortunate events that occurred within the broader PTI environment should therefore strengthen rather than diminish society's commitment to democratic accountability. Security agencies should conduct comprehensive investigations. Facts should determine responsibility. Those found culpable should face the full consequences of the law, irrespective of political affiliation. Accountability must never be selective because selective justice ultimately erodes public confidence in democratic institutions.
The wider lesson extends beyond one political gathering. Democracy cannot flourish where fear replaces persuasion, where misinformation overshadows evidence, or where violence seeks to silence legitimate political participation. Sustainable political legitimacy is earned through integrity, organisational capacity, public service, constitutional fidelity, and the confidence freely expressed by citizens through the electoral process.
As Delta State approaches another important electoral cycle, political actors bear a shared responsibility to elevate the quality of public discourse. The electorate deserves campaigns founded upon ideas rather than insults, policies rather than propaganda, accountability rather than accusation, and peaceful competition rather than confrontation. The measure of political leadership is not the ability to manufacture controversy but the capacity to inspire public confidence through responsible governance.
History consistently demonstrates that political victories secured through democratic persuasion endure far longer than those pursued through intimidation or disorder. The enduring strength of any political party lies not in its ability to dominate public conversation but in its willingness to submit its record to the judgement of the people. In the final analysis, the ballot—not violence; accountability—not misinformation; and constitutional order—not political hostility—remain the only legitimate pathways to democratic victory.
Signed:
Comrade Dick Sylvester Oghenevwede
Chairman, APC Uvwie Chapter, Delta State
