Leadership War Erupts in Warri South APC as Urhobo Bloc Petitions State Chairman By Wilson Macaulay

 

WARRI

A major leadership crisis is about to erupt within the Warri South chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as leaders of the Urhobo bloc have formally petitioned the state party leadership, challenging the outcome of the party’s congress consultation process and rejecting what they described as an imposed leadership structure.

The development has heightened political tension in Warri, raising serious concerns over party unity, internal democracy, and grassroots mobilization ahead of future political engagements in Delta State.

Petition Alleges Irregularities in Congress Process

In a petition dated February 17, 2026, the Warri Urhobo APC Leadership Council accused key party officials of orchestrating irregularities in the Warri South Local Government congress consultation process allegedly involving Mr. Mario Owumi and Mr. Weyinmi Agbateyiniro.

The group expressed concern over what it described as the marginalisation of the Urhobo political bloc in Warri South, noting that the local government is a multi-ethnic area dominated by two major political blocs — Urhobo and Itsekiri. According to the petitioners, the Itsekiri bloc has consistently produced both the Local Government Council Chairman and the Party Chairman since 1998, to the exclusion of the Urhobo bloc.

They listed past party chairmen including Meyiwa Erewa, Amah Agbajoh, Johnson Agbeyegbe, Richard Pessu, Valentine Egbe, and Mario Owumi as evidence of what they described as a long-standing leadership imbalance.

The leaders stated that they had earlier written to the state party leadership on January 27, 2026, demanding that the position of Warri South Local Government Party Chairman be ceded to the Urhobo bloc in the interest of fairness, equity, and inclusiveness.

Controversial Meeting and Alleged Imposition

According to the petition, a meeting of Warri South APC leaders held on February 14, 2026, to deliberate on ward and local government congresses was allegedly conducted contrary to party guidelines. The Urhobo leaders claimed that the Council Chairman presided over the meeting while the Party Chairman remained passive, and that the atmosphere was marked by undue interference, threats, and intimidation.

They said the meeting ended without resolution and an eleven-man committee was constituted to address only issues relating to the ward congress process.

However, the leaders alleged that on February 16, 2026, the Council Chairman reportedly hijacked the committee process, deviated from its mandate, and unilaterally announced Hon. Richard Pessu as the new Party Chairman without consensus or proper consultation.

The petition described several actions as irregular, including the presiding role of the Council Chairman at party meetings, relocation of meetings to his residence without consultation, restriction of attendance to selected individuals, and the unilateral announcement of a party chairman despite unresolved consultations.

The leaders insisted that at no time did Urhobo APC leaders concede the party chairmanship position to the Itsekiri bloc, stressing that no valid consultative congress endorsed the emergence of Hon. Richard Pessu.

OUR DEMAND TO STATE PARTY LEADERSHIP

Under the heading “Our Demand to State Party Leadership,” the Warri Urhobo APC Leadership Council called for urgent intervention by the state leadership of the party.

The group urged the Delta State Government and the State Party Chairman to disregard any Local Government APC executive list or outcome allegedly emanating from the Warri South Local Government Council Chairman and the Warri South APC Chairman, insisting that such outcomes did not emerge from a lawful or consensual process.

They further demanded:

The immediate disregard of any LGA APC Party Executive list purportedly produced through the disputed process.

The convening of a genuine and properly constituted Warri South APC leadership meeting involving all stakeholders.

A congress process that reflects justice, equity, fairness, and peaceful coexistence among all political blocs.

Stakeholders Endorse Petition

The petition was endorsed by prominent Urhobo APC leaders including Olorogun Bernard Okumagba (Chairman), Chief Benson Obire (Vice Chairman), Hon. Mark Ikpuri, Olorogun Victor Okumagba, Chief Isaac Emifoniye, Chief Vincent Okudolor (Secretary), Rev. Canon Dr. David Otofia, Chief Dr. Westham Adehor, Chief Ann Gagiyovwin, Chief Peter Agiri, and several others, who alleged a pattern of leadership concentration that had persisted for over two decades.

Copies of the petition were also forwarded to Chief Sen. Ighoyota Amori, Chief Adviser to the Delta State Governor.

Concerns Over Party Unity

Political observers say the dispute reflects longstanding concerns over power-sharing arrangements and representation among different blocs within the Warri South APC. Analysts warn that unresolved internal conflicts could weaken party structures and create divisions ahead of future electoral contests.

The aggrieved Urhobo leaders maintained that their action was not directed against the party but aimed at defending internal democracy and ensuring equitable participation.

Warning of Further Action

The protesting leaders warned that failure by the state party leadership to address their grievances could trigger serious political consequences within the Warri South APC structure.

They cautioned that continued marginalization of the Urhobo bloc may lead to intensified political resistance, mass withdrawal from party activities, and further steps to defend what they described as their political rights and interests.

“We remain loyal members of our great party, but we cannot accept imposition, injustice, or exclusion,” one of the leaders stated. “If urgent corrective measures are not taken, we will be compelled to take decisive political action to protect our collective mandate and defend internal democracy.”

As of the time of filing this report, the Delta State leadership of the APC had yet to issue an official response, though party sources indicated that consultations were ongoing to prevent further escalation of the crisis.