By Wealth Oghenemaro
The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State, Chief Solomon Arenyeka, has cautioned members of the party’s newly inaugurated executive against factional politics, stressing that the leadership will not tolerate divisive tendencies within its ranks.
Speaking on Monday during the inaugural meeting of the state executive at the party’s secretariat, Arenyeka warned members not to create parallel structures or power blocs within the leadership.
“We should not form an executive within the executive. We must not create a caucus within a caucus,” he said, emphasizing that unity and cooperation must guide the activities of the new leadership.
The APC chairman also advised party members to avoid entering politics with expectations of financial benefits, noting that political participation should be driven by commitment to service and loyalty to the party.
“When you begin politics, you should not start with complaints such as ‘they did not give me money’ or ‘they did not give me money for petrol.’ That should not be the focus,” Arenyeka said.
According to him, party members must ensure that their names are associated with integrity, dedication and hard work rather than personal grievances.
“I want to appeal to all of you to stand by your name — a name that represents integrity, dedication, hard work and above all, loyalty,” he added, stressing that loyalty in politics must be total.
He further warned against actions carried out out of fear or selfish interests, which he said could undermine the stability of the party.
“We do not want what people call ‘pobo ne pobo’ — actions driven by fear or selfish interests. Out of fear, some people carry out small missions that eventually damage the party. That must not happen,” he stated.
Arenyeka also assured members of the executive that his leadership would remain open and accessible, encouraging them to channel concerns directly through the appropriate party leadership rather than engaging in informal discussions that could create misunderstandings.
He noted that the party’s leadership emergence followed a consensus arrangement among stakeholders and called on members to focus on strengthening the party going forward.
Meanwhile, the State Publicity Secretary of the party, Barrister Valentine Onojeghuo, confirmed that the leadership transition from the immediate past chairman, Elder Omeni Sobotie, to Arenyeka had been successfully concluded.
Onojeghuo said members of the State Executive Committee were earlier sworn in, officially placing the party structure in the state under the new chairman.
He commended Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for facilitating consensus among party leaders during the congress process and ensuring a smooth transition of leadership.
According to him, the congresses conducted across the state—from ward to state level—were peaceful and orderly, with no parallel exercises recorded.
The publicity secretary also disclosed that Delta State would host the upcoming South-South zonal congress of the All Progressives Congress scheduled for March 25.
He added that the new state chairman had directed local government party chairmen to immediately return to their councils to commence the inauguration of Local Government and Ward Executive Committees.
“This means the party structure is fully in place and the party has begun work in earnest,” Onojeghuo said.
