Tension is mounting within the Delta State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) following the decision of a leading House of Assembly aspirant for Ughelli South Constituency, Barr. Vona Uwadehwe, to challenge his alleged disqualification from the party’s primary election process at the Federal High Court.
Uwadehwe, who spoke during a media briefing in Ughelli, accused the party’s screening committee of carrying out a process he described as unfair, non-transparent, and politically influenced.
The aspirant alleged that despite submitting petitions and complaints to the party’s appeal panel after the screening exercise, neither the panel nor party leadership responded to his grievances.
According to him, the silence from party authorities forced him to seek legal redress in order to defend both his political aspiration and the interests of his supporters across Ughelli South.
He maintained that his exclusion from the primary process contradicted the principles of justice, equity, and internal democracy expected within a progressive political party like the APC.
Barr. Uwadehwe insisted that he remained a loyal member of the APC and had no intention of working against the party, stressing that his court action was solely aimed at ensuring fairness and credibility in the conduct of the primaries.
He further stated that the disqualification did not reflect the true wishes of party members in the constituency, adding that the screening outcome appeared to have been predetermined.
While expressing confidence in the judiciary, the legal practitioner revealed that his legal team had already filed the necessary processes before the Federal High Court to challenge what he described as an infringement on his constitutional and political rights.
He also used the opportunity to commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his leadership at the national level, while applauding Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for developmental projects and governance efforts across the state.
Calling on his supporters to remain peaceful and law-abiding, Uwadehwe urged APC stakeholders and leaders in Delta State to uphold transparency and justice in the party’s electoral process.
The development has sparked fresh conversations within political circles in Ughelli South, with speculations growing over the possibility of a fresh primary election should the court rule in favour of the aggrieved aspirant.
Uwadehwe, however, reaffirmed his commitment to the development of Ughelli South Constituency, pledging to continue pursuing what he described as purposeful and people-oriented leadership.
