In an extraordinary political shift that has rewritten the power dynamics within the All Progressives Congress in Delta State, the incumbent senator representing Delta Central Senatorial District, Ede Dafinone, has secured a landslide victory in the party’s senatorial primary election. The high-stakes internal election concluded with a massive margin that sent waves through the political establishment, as Senator Dafinone soundly defeated the former Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege. The outcome is being viewed by grassroots mobilizers and political analysts as a definitive statement of popular will from the core progressive constituency of the state.
According to the official results formally collated and certified by the All Progressives Congress National Assembly Primary Committee, Senator Dafinone polled an overwhelming total of 116,252 votes. This immense tally effectively marginalized his challenger, Ovie Omo-Agege, who managed to secure a total of 3,643 votes across the senatorial district. The colossal margin between the two candidates surprised even seasoned political strategists, who had anticipated a more competitive race given Omo-Agege’s long-standing influence, national prominence, and previous leadership stature in the upper chamber of the National Assembly.
The final declarations and verification of ballots were managed by a designated panel of party officials. The primary election results were officially collated by Hon. Dr. Okiemute E. Benjamin, who served as the Chief Collation Officer for the exercise. The formal announcement of the figures was delivered to party members, observers, and members of the press by Barrister Nusa Amagbor, the Secretary of the All Progressives Congress National Assembly Primary Committee. The declaration process was supported by Abimbola Samuel Dart, an active member of the national committee sent to supervise the democratic exercise in Delta State. The committee certified that the process complied fully with the statutory guidelines set forth by the national executive council of the party.
The expansive scope of Delta Central Senatorial District includes eight critical local government areas: Ethiope East, Ethiope West, Sapele, Okpe, Udu, Ughelli North, Ughelli South, and Uvwie. Reports from the ground across these voting hubs indicated a massive turnout of card-carrying party faithful who arrived early at designated wards to cast their ballots through the direct primary mechanism. Senator Dafinone managed to sweep the majority of votes in all eight local government councils, indicating a well-coordinated grassroots campaign structure and a broad, cross-communal consensus among the Urhobo people who dominate the senatorial district.
The outcome marks a major political victory for Senator Dafinone and signals strong, undeniable grassroots support for his re-election bid ahead of the 2027 general elections. Having assumed office at the 10th National Assembly following his triumph in the previous general election cycle, Dafinone has built a reputation centered on fiscal responsibility, community empowerment through the Dafinone Foundation, and active representation on the floor of the Senate. This primary result is seen as a popular validation of his performance over his current tenure, demonstrating that his legislative focus and constant engagement with local stakeholders have resonated deeply with the core voter base.
Conversely, the defeat of Ovie Omo-Agege marks a significant turning point in his long political career within Delta State. As a former Secretary to the State Government, a former gubernatorial candidate, and the immediate past Deputy Senate President of Nigeria, Omo-Agege has long been considered a key architect of the All Progressives Congress structure in the Niger Delta region. Political commentators suggest that the lopsided result reflects a growing desire among grassroots members for a shift in leadership paradigms and a rejection of traditional godfatherism in favor of accessible, development-oriented representation. The massive vote count in favor of Dafinone indicates that the party’s rank-and-file chose to prioritize continuity and the calm, institutional style of representation offered by the incumbent.
In the aftermath of the declaration, jubilation broke out across major towns in Delta Central, with supporters of Senator Dafinone gathering at local party secretariats to celebrate the victory. Campaign officials for the victorious senator expressed gratitude to the delegates and party members for their orderly conduct and unwavering faith in their candidate. They noted that the focus of the campaign organization will immediately shift toward building an all-inclusive platform that welcomes all aggrieved party members back into the fold, ensuring a unified front as the party prepares to confront opposition platforms in the general election.
With the primary concluded and the candidate officially decided, the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress faces the task of managing the internal reconciliation process within Delta State. Senior party elders have already begun reaching out to various factions to maintain party stability and avoid the internal friction that often follows high-stakes primary contests. The definitive mandate handed to Senator Ede Dafinone by 116,252 party members gives him a formidable platform from which to launch his general election campaign, positioning the All Progressives Congress strongly to retain the highly contested Delta Central senatorial seat in the 2027 polls.
