Asaba, Delta State – March 3, 2026 – The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State has elected Chief Solomon Arenyeka as its new State Chairman following a peaceful and consensus-driven State Congress held on Tuesday at the Cenotaph in Asaba. The congress also produced a full complement of State Working Committee (SWC) members, marking a major leadership transition for the party in the state.
Chief Arenyeka emerged unopposed by consensus, alongside Elder Moses Iduh as Deputy Chairman and Chief Efe Uko as State Secretary. Other key positions filled through consensus included Chief Paulinus Akpeki (Delta Central Chairman), Chief Emmanuel Amgbaduba (Delta South Chairman), Engr. Daniel Ossai (Delta North Chairman), Elder Emmanuel Egbabor (State Organising Secretary), Barr. Valentine Onojeghuo (State Publicity Secretary), Mrs. Ifeyinwa Sobotie (State Woman Leader), and Christopher Agali (State Youth Leader), among others.
Engr. Vita Abba, Chairman of the State Congress Electoral Committee, declared the new executive duly elected after delegates formally affirmed the consensus list in line with the APC Constitution and guidelines issued by the national leadership. The affirmation process was conducted transparently and without acrimony, drawing praise from party stakeholders for reflecting broad consultation and inclusiveness.
The congress commenced with a motion moved by former Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei, for the dissolution of the outgoing State Working Committee led by Elder Omeni Sobotie. The motion was seconded by Olorogun O’tega Emerhor and unanimously adopted by delegates, paving the way for the inauguration of the new leadership.
Addressing party faithful, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori expressed profound appreciation to the outgoing executive for their stewardship during a critical transition period following the political realignment that saw Delta APC formally align with the national leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in April 2025. He described the period as defining and transformative for the party in the state.
“I stand before you today filled with a deep sense of responsibility and brimming with optimism about the bright prospects of our great party. What began as a principled decision to align Delta State with the renewed vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has evolved into a powerful and unstoppable political movement,” the governor stated.
Governor Oborevwori commended the discipline, cooperation, and resilience of party members across the state’s 270 wards, 25 local government areas, and at the state level. He highlighted the peaceful and inclusive nature of the ward, local government, and state congresses as evidence of the APC’s maturing internal democracy. “There was no imposition. What we witnessed is broad consultation, agreement and inclusiveness. This structure belongs to all of us,” he emphasized.
The governor issued clear marching orders to the new executive, charging them to hit the ground running in preparation for the 2027 general elections. He directed the leadership to prioritize regular meetings, deepen grassroots engagement, and intensify voter education and mobilization efforts across all senatorial districts.
“Our mission is unequivocal. We must secure victory at every level—the Presidency, the Senate, the House of Representatives, the Governorship and the State House of Assembly,” Oborevwori declared. He expressed strong confidence that the APC in Delta would deliver massive votes for President Tinubu and all party candidates in the next electoral cycle.
The governor also used the occasion to highlight the achievements of his administration under the MORE Agenda, citing progress in infrastructure development, healthcare delivery, education reform, youth empowerment, agricultural transformation, security enhancement, and human capital development. He reiterated his commitment to transparency, accountability, and performance as the foundation for continued public support.
Immediate past State Chairman, Elder Omeni Sobotie, described the congress as the outcome of collective sacrifice, unity, and maturity within the party. “In politics, what we have is not ‘I’ but ‘we.’ The interest of the people is more important than personal interests,” he said, urging the new leadership to lead with humility. “Ability may take a man to the top, but humility keeps him there,” Sobotie added. He expressed optimism that the restructured Delta APC is now formidable and positioned to overwhelm any opposition in future contests.
In his acceptance speech, Chief Solomon Arenyeka thanked party leaders, stakeholders, and members for the trust reposed in him and the entire new executive. “I am fully aware of the weight of this responsibility and do not take it lightly. We consider ourselves privileged to serve and we pledge to justify the confidence imposed in us,” he stated.
Arenyeka promised that the new SWC would operate on the pillars of hard work, integrity, transparency, teamwork, and sustained consensus-building. He paid glowing tribute to Governor Oborevwori for his exemplary leadership and unifying disposition, assuring that the Delta APC would strive to become a model for other state chapters under his watch.
“We have heard the marching orders from our leader. By God’s grace, we shall deliver all APC candidates in the 2027 elections,” Arenyeka vowed.
The congress attracted party leaders, stakeholders, and supporters from across Delta State and beyond, with the atmosphere charged with celebration, renewed unity, and determination ahead of the 2027 electoral battle. The emergence of the new executive is seen as a strategic consolidation of gains made since the party’s realignment and a clear signal of the APC’s intent to challenge for dominance in Delta politics.
As preparations intensify for the next general elections, attention now turns to how effectively the new leadership will translate the governor’s charge into grassroots mobilization, candidate screening, and voter outreach across the state’s three senatorial districts.
