By Victor Lewis
Senator Ede Dafinone, representing Delta Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly, has declared the Sapele Local Government APC Congress held at the Sapele Sports Stadium yesterday February 21, 2026 as successful and peaceful.
It would be recalled that the APC party adopted consensus mode of Congress election across the State, and in Sapele Local Government Area, the exercise produced a new Exco on Saturday with Francis Okpigben emerging as LGA Chairman, Ikomi Gbubemi as Vice Chairman, Solomon Ofarn as Secretary, Omosuvie Henry as Assistant Secretary, Asagba Hero as Youth Leader and Elohor Augustina as Assistant Youth Leader, among other officers
Speaking shortly after unveiling the new LG Exco of the party, Senator Ede Dafinone noted that internal wranglings and division that had hitherto characterized the party in Sapele LG has become a thing of the past, stating that the party is now “repositioned with strength, structure and unity ahead of future elections”.
Addressing the press shortly after the Congress, Senator Dafinone congratulated the new party Exco, reminding everyone that the task of organizing a successful Congress for the party nationwide was just 50% complete with the LG Congress.
“Well, first of all, I have to congratulate our new LGA chairman. We are halfway through the process now. We have completed the ward congresses. We have completed the LGA congress. You are here, you saw that it was peaceful, without rancour. It was done by consensus”, he said.
Stressing that the party in the LGA has become more united than ever, Senator Dafinone debunked rumours of faction, adding that the process of the Congress depends on who has the wherewithal to win election.
“What we have is a sharing of power according to the strongest contenders in every unit, in every ward, and in every LGA.
“So, the party people were asked to sit down, engage themselves in that particular unit — who is the strongest candidate? Forget APC or PDP. Who delivers the votes on election day? And that is the principle used to arrive at executives at every ward and at every LGA.”
Dafinone stated that there were lessons to learn from the successful completion of the LG Congress in Sapele, adding that it was a product of men and women associated with high performance and election-winning capacity.
“The political message from Sapele is clear: performance and capacity to win elections now outweigh internal alignments.
“What that will mean is that the party will field the strongest candidates for election, with a party that is filled with experienced politicians who can deliver the party at all levels,” Dafinone said.
The national lawmaker also stressed on the unity now prevalent in party in the LG, noting that “we are today one united party working for the All Progressives Congress to deliver. We must carry everybody along. It must be one united party. And that is what we are all working toward.”
Delta Voice gathered that the exercise was conducted by APC Returning Officer Blessing Akamugbe, with an official of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) present.
The Congress was attended by key stakeholders including Delta State Commissioner for Environment, Ejiro Jamani, former state party chairman Kingsley Esiso, Mr. Austin Ayemidejor, and Delta State House of Assembly member Perkins Umukoro, alongside ward leaders and grassroots mobilizers.
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