Politics rewards loyalty — until it doesn’t.
That appears to be the message from Senator Ned Nwoko after his crushing defeat in the APC primary election left him questioning not just the result, but the promises that brought him into the party.
Now, the Delta North lawmaker is openly accusing the All Progressives Congress (APC) of failing to honour commitments allegedly made before his defection.
From Political Courtship To Political Shock
Recall that former Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, secured a commanding victory in the APC primary held on May 18.
Official figures showed Okowa polling 113,309 votes, while Nwoko recorded 2,612 votes.
But for Nwoko, the numbers tell only part of the story.
“I Was Promised An Automatic Ticket”
Speaking during an appearance on ARISE Television’s Prime Time, Nwoko claimed one of the major incentives offered to convince him to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was an assurance that he would receive an automatic ticket.
According to him, the agreement went beyond candidacy.
He said discussions included broader negotiations around restructuring party influence and creating room for new entrants within the APC power structure.
Nwoko argued that such assurances gave him confidence to make the political switch.
Ganduje’s Name Enters The Conversation
The senator further claimed he received repeated assurances from former APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje that he would emerge as the party’s candidate for the 2027 elections.
According to him, conversations with party leadership created expectations that eventually shaped his political decisions.
Those expectations, he suggested, did not match the outcome announced after the primary.
Nwoko Rejects Defeat, Alleges Manipulation
Beyond disappointment, Nwoko also challenged the credibility of the primary process itself.
He alleged that the exercise was manipulated in favour of Okowa.
According to him, he possesses evidence, including videos, which he believes supports his claim that he won across most of the voting areas.
The senator insisted the outcome released does not reflect what happened on the ground.
Bigger Questions For Party Politics
Nwoko’s comments may reopen an old political debate.
How much of politics is built on formal rules — and how much depends on private understandings?
Automatic tickets, power-sharing promises and negotiated defections have long existed in political conversations, but rarely become public after relationships break down.
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Now that the disagreement is in the open, attention may shift from who won the primary to what was truly agreed before the contest began.
One thing, however, is becoming clear.
For Nwoko, this is no longer only about losing.
It is about trust.