ASABA – The political firmament of Delta State experienced a seismic shift this week as the All Progressives Congress (APC) concluded its rigorous screening exercise for the 2027 State House of Assembly elections. In an outcome that has sent shockwaves through various political caucuses, the party’s Screening Committee announced the clearance of 46 aspirants, including the high-profile Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Dennis Guwor. However, the exercise was not without its casualties, as a staggering 36 aspirants were summarily disqualified for various constitutional and ethical infractions.
The two-day exercise, held at the APC State Secretariat in Asaba, served as a high-stakes gatekeeping process designed to ensure that the party presents a legally invulnerable and morally upright front for the 2027 general elections. The committee, led by Dr. Uche Uzochukwu as Chairman and Dr. Chiedozie Nwafor as Secretary, oversaw the meticulous scrutiny of 82 hopefuls who appeared before the panel.
At the center of the successful list is Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Dennis Guwor, who currently serves not only as the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly but also as the Chairman of the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures in Nigeria. Guwor emerged from the screening process as the sole cleared aspirant for the Warri South-West Constituency, effectively solidifying his position as a cornerstone of the APC’s legislative strategy in the state.
Guwor’s clearance is seen by political analysts as a vote of confidence in the current legislative leadership. He is joined by 16 other sitting members of the 8th Delta Assembly who are seeking reelection. This move suggests that the APC is leaning heavily into incumbency power and legislative continuity as it prepares to challenge for total dominance in the 2027 polls.
The executive arm of the state government also saw its representatives successfully pivot toward the legislative race. Three prominent members of the Delta State Executive Council were given the green light to proceed to the primaries: Funyei Manager for Bomadi, Harry Trakirlowei for Patani, and Orode Uduaghan for Warri North. The inclusion of Orode Uduaghan, daughter of former Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, adds a layer of dynastic intrigue and veteran political backing to the APC’s lineup, particularly in the sensitive Warri North corridor.
While the clearance of 46 candidates made headlines, it was the disqualification of 36 others—nearly 44% of the total applicants—that sparked the most intense conversation across the state. The committee’s official publication did not mince words, citing a litany of infractions that ranged from administrative sloppiness to outright attempts at subverting the democratic process.
In a stunning revelation, the committee listed inducement and attempted bribery of committee members as a primary reason for the disqualification of certain aspirants. This bold stance by the Dr. Uzochukwu-led panel is being interpreted as a message that the old way of doing business in Delta politics will no longer be tolerated under the current APC leadership.
Beyond ethical lapses, the committee identified several technical and legal landmines that saw many ambitions cut short. Several aspirants were found to have conflicting dates of birth and names that did not match across their official documents—a red flag that often leads to pre-election litigation in Nigerian courts. The submission of unsworn affidavits or multiple conflicting affidavits that failed to disclose material facts regarding certificates and personal records proved fatal for many.
In terms of party membership and logistics, some aspirants failed to provide valid party membership slips or Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs). Furthermore, some nominators were found to have irregular membership numbers or had failed to pay their party dues, rendering the aspirants' applications void. In a critical move to protect the party from post-election legal challenges, the committee disqualified several aspirants for failing to resign from their political appointments within the timeframe stipulated by the Electoral Act.
The panel also addressed the sensitive issue of zoning. In certain constituencies, the committee found that aspirants were running in direct violation of established local zoning arrangements. The report noted that allowing such candidates to proceed would jeopardize the electoral fortunes of the party by inciting internal sabotage and alienating key voting blocs. By enforcing these local pacts, the APC is clearly attempting to minimize the protest vote that often plagues major parties in Delta State.
In a joint statement, Dr. Uche Uzochukwu and Dr. Chiedozie Nwafor maintained that the screening process was guided strictly by the APC Constitution, the party’s internal electoral guidelines, and the overarching provisions of the Electoral Act. They noted that the committee carried out its responsibilities with fairness, diligence, and utmost commitment to the integrity of the party. They ensured that only aspirants who met the constitutional and procedural requirements of the APC were cleared to proceed to the primary election stage.
The committee emphasized that this cleansing of the aspirant list was essential for strengthening internal democracy. By removing candidates with flawed credentials or questionable ethics at the screening stage, the party hopes to avoid the court-ordered turnovers that have historically benefited opposition parties in the region.
Despite the finality of the committee’s report, a window of hope remains for the 36 disqualified aspirants. The panel advised those who were dissatisfied with the outcome to seek redress through the Screening Appeal Committee. This mechanism is designed to provide a second look at documents and circumstances that may have been misinterpreted during the initial two-day sprint in Asaba.
However, for the 46 cleared aspirants, the focus now shifts entirely to the primary elections. The presence of the Speaker and other high-ranking incumbents suggests that the primaries will be a test of grassroots loyalty versus institutional power. In constituencies where multiple candidates were cleared, the campaign machinery is expected to hit a fever pitch in the coming weeks.
As Asaba prepares for the next phase of the 2027 cycle, the APC has positioned itself as a party of rules and standards. Whether this rigorous approach leads to a more unified front or triggers a wave of defections to rival parties remains to be seen. What is certain, however, is that the 2027 Delta State Assembly race has officially begun, and the stakes have never been higher.
With the clearance of Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Dennis Guwor and his colleagues, the APC has laid down its gauntlet. The political arithmetic of Delta State is being recalculated, and every aspirant now knows that in the 2027 cycle, the party’s constitution is just as important as the voter’s thumbprint.
