Gunmen Invade APC Senate Primary Venue in Delta as Governor’s Aide Named, Denies Role

Shooting at Delta South primary venue

Armed men stormed an APC senatorial primary venue in Delta South on Sunday, firing shots, injuring several people, and sending party members scrambling — with a governor’s aide squarely in the middle of it all.

The attack happened at Ebe Primary School in Ovrode, Isoko North LGA, where APC members had gathered to vote in the Delta South senatorial primary. Sahara Reporters says the armed youths were allegedly loyal to Ovie Umuakpo, Executive Assistant to Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori.

“As we were all gathered waiting for the commencement of the primaries, all we saw was the governor’s aide, Ovie Umuakpo, with armed youths invading Ebe Primary School, Ovrode, the venue of the primaries. They started shooting, and some youths on the ground began to resist the armed youths, leading to injuries,” an APC member present told Sahara Reporters.

A health commissioner in the crosshairs

The alleged real target was State Commissioner for Health, Joseph Onojaeme, who was reportedly working to deliver the primary for incumbent Senator Onowakpo. Umuakpo and the commissioner had an earlier falling-out that was supposedly settled — evidently not fully.

“The invasion was bloody. The community youths stood their ground and resisted,” the witness said. Several firearms were recovered from the armed youths and taken to a hospital in nearby Ofagbe. After the shooting stopped, the primary was relocated to the Isoko North council secretariat in Ozoro and continued there.

Umuakpo denied being behind the invasion. “I didn’t invade Ovrode. I discovered that the venue was relocated by the commissioner against the party’s designated venue. I went to find out why. On stepping down, we were attacked by boys on the ground. My boys were seriously injured,” he said.

Delta North also hit

Delta South was not alone. Leadership newspaper reported that violence also broke out at APC senatorial primary venues in Delta North the same day, with more injuries and further disruption to the exercise.

The Delta incidents are the latest in a wave of primaries violence sweeping Nigeria ahead of 2027. Earlier in May, deadly clashes at APC House of Representatives primaries in Plateau and Lagos left people dead and several arrested. The pattern is clear — and it is not slowing down.

Sources: Sahara Reporters, Leadership