A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State, Ayiri Emami, has called on President Bola Tinubu to ensure that loyal party members who stood with the party during its formative and unpopular years are not sidelined by recent defectors.
In an interview with the Daily Sun, Emami warned against internal oppression within the APC, stating that he would not allow himself to be pushed aside after years of sacrifice for the party.
He stated, “I won’t be pushed out of a party I almost died for. If I ever step aside, it’ll be my decision. But those who just joined must acknowledge those who carried the burden when it was dangerous to do so.”
The APC chieftain reminded the President of specific promises made to the Itsekiri people during his campaign, especially the completion of the Omadina-Escravos Road and the revival of the Ogidigben Gas Revolution Industrial Park (EPZ) project.
“Asiwaju gave us his word. The EPZ project was abandoned after Buhari came in. Now that he’s President, he must ensure it is revived. We’ve waited long enough,” he said.
Speaking on the recent controversy surrounding the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) ward delineation exercise in Delta State, Emami described the process as biased and unfair, accusing INEC of suppressing certain communities.
Emami further stated, “You can’t take a community with two wards and give them ten, while reducing others. That’s not delineation, that’s suppression. INEC must follow the law, or reverse this injustice.”
He warned that the Itsekiri people, confined to the Warri Federal Constituency, were facing systemic marginalisation in political representation.
The APC chieftain said, “This is not about sentiment. It’s about survival. The Constitution protects minorities, and we are invoking that right.”
On the political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections, Emami dismissed the coalition of opposition parties as inconsequential.
He said, “Let them form their coalition. It’s dead on arrival. Tinubu will win again. We’re not afraid of competition, but they can’t defeat us.”
While welcoming new entrants into the APC, the Delta APC leader cautioned against marginalising core loyalists in favour of influential defectors, particularly governors.
“You can’t erase those who built the party just because a governor has joined. Reconciliation must happen, but everyone must be respected,” he stated.
Emami did not spare some members of Tinubu’s cabinet and South-South governors, accusing them of underperformance and failing to address the economic hardship confronting Nigerians despite increased federal revenue following the removal of fuel subsidy.
“Only a few ministers are working. Tinubu needs to reshuffle the cabinet. And governors, especially from the South-South, must be held accountable. People are hungry, and it’s not all on the President,” he said.