A prominent chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State, Hon. Efe Ofobruku, has accused some former members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who recently defected to the APC of attempting to hijack the party’s structure, warning that the crisis, if unchecked, could doom the party’s prospects ahead of the 2027 elections.

Speaking on TVC’s Politics Tonight, the two-time state lawmaker said the party had been stable until the influx of defectors, whom he accused of operating with a “conqueror’s mentality.”

“They came in behaving as though they had captured territory,” Ofobruku said. “Now they are suspending people illegally and trying to take over local structures they didn’t build.”

He cited cases in Ughelli North and Ethiope West where APC chairmen were allegedly removed without due process, describing such moves as “kangaroo activities” that violate the party’s constitution and the Nigerian Constitution’s provision for fair hearing.

Ofobruku accused some ambitious politicians of hiding behind high-profile names such as President Bola Tinubu and former Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege to claim control of the party. He, however, cleared Omo-Agege of any wrongdoing, calling him “a peace-loving leader who worked tirelessly to build the APC.”

He also faulted the state party leadership for failing to properly integrate the defectors, alleging that some senior members were using factional meetings to consolidate power ahead of 2027.

“The leadership should be building bridges, not widening divides,” he said, calling for reconciliation and the sanction of anyone involved in illegal suspensions or forgery of party documents.

Ofobruku urged stakeholders to seek the mediation of former Governor James Ibori, whom he described as “the political father of all Delta leaders,” to help restore unity.

“We must not allow ambition to destroy the house we all built. There’s only one APC in Delta. Those who joined us must respect the existing structure if we’re to stand strong in 2027,” he said.