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The All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primaries in Delta State produced major political upsets and emphatic victories on Monday, as incumbent Senator Ede Dafinone retained control of Delta Central, former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa staged a sweeping triumph in Delta North, while Senator Joel-Onowakpo Thomas secured the party’s ticket for Delta South ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In Delta Central Senatorial District, Senator Ede Dafinone recorded a resounding victory over former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, polling 116,252 votes against Omo-Agege’s 3,643 votes in a direct primary conducted across the eight local government areas of the district. 
The results, announced by the Secretary of the APC National Assembly Primary Committee, Barrister Nusa Amagbor, followed what party officials described as a peaceful, transparent and credible exercise conducted under the direct primary Option A4 system.
Amagbor said the process complied with the party’s guidelines and affirmed that Dafinone, having secured the highest number of valid votes cast, emerged as the duly elected APC candidate for Delta Central Senatorial District.
Reacting to his victory, Dafinone praised party members and stakeholders for their support and commended the conduct of the primary election, describing it as free, fair and transparent. He also extended an olive branch to Omo-Agege and other party members, urging unity ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In Delta North Senatorial District, former Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, overwhelmed incumbent Senator Ned Nwoko in another dramatic contest. Okowa polled 113,309 votes to defeat Nwoko, who secured 2,612 votes, while Mariam Ali received 40 votes. 
Declaring the results, returning officer Eugene Odo said Okowa satisfied all constitutional and party requirements and was therefore returned as winner of the primary election.
The Delta South contest also ended in a commanding victory for incumbent Senator Joel-Onowakpo Thomas, who defeated former lawmaker Hon. Michael Diden by a wide margin to clinch the APC senatorial ticket.
At the collation centre in Oleh, the chairman of the election panel announced that Joel-Onowakpo secured 87,805 votes against Diden’s 30,794 votes. The senator reportedly won in seven of the eight local government areas in the district, with Diden prevailing only in his home base of Warri North.
Speaking after his declaration, Joel-Onowakpo expressed gratitude to God and appreciated key APC leaders, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Delta State Governor Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, and Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor, for their support throughout the exercise.
He described the outcome as a strong endorsement of his representation in the Senate and pledged to continue delivering quality representation and attracting greater dividends of democracy to Delta South.
The senator further called on APC members across the state to remain united and committed to securing victory for the party in the 2027 general elections.
The primaries, monitored by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), witnessed large turnout of party members across the state and were largely adjudged peaceful despite the high-profile contests involving influential political figures.
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