Delta APC Crisis: Exco Rejects Petition Against Morka, Wants Chairman Out
ASABA/Nigeria: In a dramatic turn of events, the majority members of the State Executive Committee (SEC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State have rejected a petition submitted by the state chairman, Elder Omeni Sobotie, against the National Publicity Secretary (NPS), Barr. Felix Morka. The SEC members condemned the petition as baseless and called for Sobotie’s immediate suspension over alleged abuse of office and gross misconduct.
In a letter addressed to the APC National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the SEC members stated that the petition, dated March 17, 2025, was unilaterally authored by Sobotie without the knowledge or approval of the state’s executive leadership. The members described the petition as “grossly misconceived, petty, and reckless,” emphasizing that it failed to provide any reasonable or justifiable grounds for Morka’s removal.
The petition, according to the SEC members, contained two allegations against Morka. First, it accused him of issuing a press statement clarifying that the APC National Working Committee (NWC) had not approved the creation of a Delta State APC Leadership Council. The SEC members defended Morka’s clarification, noting that the council was not recognized under the party’s constitution and had never been approved by the SEC.
Secondly, Sobotie alleged that Morka had declared Senator Ovie Omo-Agege as the leader of the party in a television interview. The SEC members, however, dismissed this claim, stating that no such statement had been found in any television news reports. They questioned Sobotie’s “morbid opposition” to Omo-Agege’s leadership status, citing his role as the APC’s governorship candidate in the 2023 general elections, where he led the party to significant victories, including two senatorial seats, a House of Representatives seat, and seven House of Assembly seats.
The SEC members further accused Sobotie of attempting to discredit Morka, whom they described as “a fine and highly distinguished Deltan serving the nation admirably.” They expressed full confidence in Morka’s leadership, professionalism, and commitment to the party’s ideals, urging the NWC to dismiss the petition as “frivolous and reckless.”
Beyond the petition, the SEC members launched a scathing critique of Sobotie’s leadership, describing it as “an unmitigated disaster.” They accused him of failing to convene SEC meetings, operating in a dictatorial manner, and being absent from duty for prolonged periods, thereby creating a leadership vacuum.
The committee also alleged that Sobotie’s ties with the Delta State government, controlled by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had compromised his leadership. They claimed that his relationship with the PDP had exposed the APC to “political manipulation and sabotage” and insisted that his financial ties to the PDP amounted to a conflict of interest that eroded trust in his leadership.
Highlighting the damage caused by Sobotie’s actions, the SEC members declared that they had lost confidence in his leadership. They called on the NWC to immediately suspend him from office to prevent further harm to the party’s reputation and integrity in Delta State.
“By suspending Sobotie, the NWC can help restore the party’s vitality, integrity, and direction in the state, ensuring that the APC remains united and focused on its objectives,” the SEC members stated.
The petition rejecting Sobotie’s claims was signed by key SEC members, including Chief (Barr.) Francis Obigbor (State Deputy Chairman), Surveyor Peter Akarogbe (State Secretary), Sir Austin Oribioye (State Vice Chairman, Delta South Senatorial District), and Hon. Johnson Ejogbamu Okoro (State Organizing Secretary), among others. Also signing the document were several local government chairmen of the party.
