By Akombo Aondona, Abuja
Members of the Delta State Executive Committee (SEC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress APC, on 19 March 2025, petitioned the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party to suspend their State Chairman.Omeni Sobotie, and remove him from office following his petition against the APC National Publicity Secretary, Barr Felix Morka.
In a statement in Abuja, the 79 members of the state Executive Committee expressed a loss of confidence in the Sobotie leadership.
They stated: “We categorically condemn and dissociate ourselves from the petition. The allegations are baseless and constitute a blatant attempt to silence a courageous voice in defense of the Party and President Bola Tinubu’s administration. We fear that Sobotie has been commissioned by external political interests to undermine the effectiveness of the office of NPS.
“We wish to express full faith and confidence in Barr. Morka’s leadership, service, and impeccable commitment to our party’s ideals. Morka has acted and continues to act with extreme decorum and professionalism in the discharge of the functions of his office.
“We urge the NWC to discountenance the petition as frivolous and reckless and dismiss it in its entirety. Sobotie’s actions are a clear violation of Section 21.2v of the party’s constitution, which explicitly prohibits members from providing false information to any party organ and engaging in unauthorized publicity of party disputes without exhausting all internal avenues for settlement or redress. This blatant disregard for party procedures and protocols is unacceptable and warrants immediate suspension.
“By releasing the petition to the public, Sobotie has not only violated the constitution but also undermined the party’s internal dispute resolution mechanisms. This behavior is unbecoming of a party leader and demonstrates a lack of commitment to upholding the party’s principles and procedures. We urge the party leadership to take immediate action to address this violation and ensure that Sobotie is held accountable for his actions.”
The Delta SEC members added: “We would also like to use this medium to bring to the attention of the NWC that Sobotie’s leadership as state chairman has been an unmitigated disaster. He has consistently proved incapable of discharging the functions of his office. He has been absent without explanation for prolonged periods, foisting a vacuum of leadership that has enabled impostors and unauthorized elements to undermine the party’s institutional integrity and effective functioning.
“We unequivocally condemn Elder Sobotie’s cozy relationship with the Delta State government, controlled by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). This illicit association has severely undermined our party’s integrity, exposing us to political manipulation and sabotage. Furthermore, we have strong reason to believe that Sobotie has been commissioned and is subsequently compromised by his financial ties to the Delta State government, a glaring conflict of interest that erodes trust in his leadership and loyalty to our party.
“We had thought it best to wait until the next congress to address the threat that Sobotie represents. However, the damage that his continued stay in office is inflicting on the party is incalculable and may become irremediable if nothing is done to constrain Sobotie’s nefarious activities and damaging inactions.
“We have completely lost confidence in Sobotie’s leadership as state chairman, as he continues to act with impunity in blatant disregard of the party’s constitution. We strongly urge the National Working Committee (NWC) to take immediate disciplinary action by suspending Sobotie from his position as state chairman. This decisive measure is crucial to prevent further damage to the party’s reputation and integrity.
“By suspending Sobotie, the NWC can help mitigate the harm caused, restore the party’s vitality, integrity, and direction in the state, and ensure the APC Delta State chapter remains united and focused on its objectives. We respectfully request the NWC to exercise its authority and take prompt action to address this situation.”
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