I am an advocate of party unity, Okotete assertions incorrect – Igbuya
The Delta State Representative on the Board of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Rt. Hon. Monday Igbuya has debunked a media report that he is supporting a faction of the All Progressives Congress in Delta State.
Chief Igbuya, a former Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, said that he is a strong advocate of party unity in Delta; as such, he cannot be seen to be supporting a divisive move, which is capable of weakening the party ahead of 2027 general elections.
The Delta APC chieftain stated this in a telephone chat while reacting to the claim by Hon. Stella Okotete, an Executive Director at the Nigeria Export-Import Bank (NEXIM), in her interview published in Nations newspaper and others, where she claimed that Igbuya and other supports the Delta APC “collegiate leadership.”
Okotete while speaking on the leadership crisis in Delta APC, was quoted to have said: …”That tells you how united and attractive the APC is in Delta. We have three senators. The three senators are working together with the Honorable Minister of Aviation and other critical party stakeholders. From former speakers of the Delta State House of Assembly to former legislators, the Halims Agodas, the Igbuyas, and the Ocheis are all working together. The pioneer leader of the party, O’tega Emerhor is working with the Minister (of Aviation) and the senators.”
However, Chief Igbuya, in his reaction, said: “I want to put on record that I am not aligned with any camp. I do not support any faction, nor do I stand with any particular individual in this matter. It is important to clarify that I am not involved in any divisive moves within the Delta APC. I firmly believe in the unity of the party in Delta and will continue to advocate for it.
“I do not think it is wise to encourage or participate in what some describe as a “gang-up” or collegiate leadership that fosters division. My stance has always been clear—I am a strong advocate of party unity. I have always prioritized working towards cohesion rather than fueling internal conflicts.
“Recently, I visited the Minister for Aviation and Aerospace, Olorogun Festus Keyamu, who made certain allegations against Omo-Agege. I confronted him regarding those claims and subsequently addressed Omo-Agege as well. My intention remains the same—I will continue to reach out to other leaders to understand the reasons behind these persistent divisions within the party.
Chief Igbuya stated further, “I cannot be seen preaching unity while simultaneously taking sides. That is not who I am, and I want to make my position absolutely clear. My reaction is solely in response to the aspect that concerns me. While I congratulate her on her 40th birthday, it is simply not true that I support the assertions she has made,” he added.
