Delta APC elects Solomon Arenyeka chairman, Oborevwori sets 2027 victory target

The Delta State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has elected Chief Solomon Arenyeka as its new State Chairman, ushering in a fresh leadership team tasked with steering the party toward victory in the 2027 general elections.

The emergence of Arenyeka came through a consensus arrangement at the party’s State Congress held Tuesday at the Cenotaph in Asaba, the Delta State capital.

Delegates affirmed the new State Working Committee (SWC) amid a display of unity and coordination that party leaders described as a reflection of internal cohesion.

Alongside Arenyeka, Elder Moses Iduh was elected Deputy Chairman, while Chief Efe Uko assumed the position of State Secretary.

Other members of the executive elected by consensus include Chief Paulinus Akpeki as Delta Central Chairman, Chief Emmanuel Amgbaduba as Delta South Chairman, and Engr. Daniel Ossai as Delta North Chairman.

Elder Emmanuel Egbabor emerged as State Organising Secretary, Barr. Valentine Onojeghuo as State Publicity Secretary, Mrs. Ifeyinwa Sobotie as State Woman Leader, and Christopher Agali as State Youth Leader, among others.

Chairman of the State Congress Electoral Committee, Engr. Vita Abba, formally declared the executives elected following their affirmation by delegates.

He noted that the process complied fully with the party’s constitution and operational guidelines.

The congress also marked a transition in leadership. A motion for the dissolution of the outgoing State Working Committee was moved by former Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei, and seconded by Olorogun O’tega Emerhor.

The motion received unanimous approval from delegates, clearing the path for the inauguration of the new leadership team.

In his address to party faithful, Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori commended the outgoing executive led by Elder Omeni Sobotie for guiding the party through what he described as a critical transition period, particularly following the political realignment of April 2025.

The governor said the party’s recent evolution was rooted in a broader national alignment with the Renewed Hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu, adding that the decision had strengthened the APC’s foothold in Delta State.

“I stand before you today filled with a deep sense of responsibility and optimism about the prospects of our great party,” Oborevwori told delegates.

“What began as a principled alignment with the renewed vision at the centre has grown into a formidable political movement in Delta State.”

He praised members for what he described as discipline and maturity during the congresses conducted across the state’s 270 wards, 25 local government areas, and at the state level.

According to him, the peaceful conduct of the exercises underscored the party’s commitment to consultation and inclusiveness.

“There was no imposition. What we witnessed was agreement built on dialogue. This structure belongs to all of us,” he said.

Setting the tone for the years ahead, Oborevwori charged the new executive to immediately commence groundwork for the 2027 polls.

He urged regular meetings, deeper grassroots engagement, and robust voter mobilization strategies to secure victories at all tiers of government.

“Our mission is clear: we must win the Presidency, the National Assembly seats, the Governorship and the State House of Assembly,” the governor declared, expressing confidence that Delta APC would deliver significant support for President Tinubu and other party candidates.

He reiterated his administration’s commitment to transparency and performance under the ‘MORE Agenda’, highlighting ongoing investments in infrastructure, healthcare, education, youth empowerment, agriculture, security, and human capital development.

In his remarks, immediate past State Chairman, Elder Omeni Sobotie, described the congress as a triumph of unity and collective sacrifice.

Emphasising teamwork over personal ambition, he urged the new leadership to govern with humility.

“In politics, it is not about ‘I’ but ‘we.’ The interest of the people must always prevail,” Sobotie stated, adding that while ability may elevate a leader, humility sustains leadership.

Accepting his new role, Arenyeka expressed appreciation to party leaders and delegates for the confidence placed in him and his team.

He acknowledged the weight of responsibility and pledged to justify the trust reposed in the new executive.

“We are privileged to serve and we will uphold the values of hard work, integrity, and transparency,” he said, promising to sustain consensus-building and accountability within the party’s ranks.

Arenyeka also paid tribute to Governor Oborevwori’s leadership style, describing it as unifying and strategic.

He assured members that under his chairmanship, the Delta APC would position itself as a model for other state chapters.

“We have received clear marching orders. By God’s grace, we shall deliver all APC candidates in 2027,” he affirmed.

The congress ended in an atmosphere of celebration, with party stakeholders from across the state expressing optimism that the new leadership would consolidate gains and prepare the APC for a decisive outing in the next electoral cycle.