Victor Ochei, the former speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, has formally resigned from the All Progressives Congress, bringing to an end a tumultuous decade with the ruling party. His departure comes just one day after Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, the former deputy senate president and influential Delta Central representative, announced his own exit from the APC, triggering what appears to be a cascading wave of defections that could reshape the political landscape in Delta State ahead of future electoral contests.
Ochei’s resignation follows months of mounting pressure from stakeholders and supporters who urged him to contest either the APC Delta North Senatorial Primary or the State Governorship Primary. Yet the former speaker remained conuously silent throughout the primary season, offering no response to repeated calls for his candidacy even as the elections concluded and winners emerged. After the primaries ended, those same voices intensified their appeals, this time urging him to seek greener political pastures with opposition parties where his ambitions might find more fertile ground.
According to a statement released by Austin Edemodu, his media aide, Ochei made his decision after what he characterized as deep reflections and extensive consultations with political associates and supporters across Delta State. The former lawmaker, who originally left the People’s Democratic Party to join the APC in 2016, emphasized that he arrived at the party with genuine conviction and an unwavering belief in its stated vision. Over the past ten years, he maintained, he made significant contributions to expanding the party’s grassroots reach, strengthening its organizational structures, and mobilizing support across diverse communities throughout the state.
Ochei took particular care to note his long tenure and early commitment to the APC, pointedly observing that he had already dedicated himself to the party’s ideals of leadership and public service long before many current party leaders joined its ranks. He expressed pride in what he described as measurable progress achieved through years of political engagement, youth inclusion, women’s participation, and democratic development. Despite these accomplishments, he stressed that political institutions must continuously evolve to reflect fairness, inclusion, and the genuine aspirations of the people they claim to serve.
The former speaker was emphatic that his departure stemmed not from personal bitterness or resentment toward any individual within the party hierarchy, but rather from an enduring commitment to service and a vision for political progress that he believes can no longer be realized within the APC framework. His decision to chart what he termed a new course reflects his determination to remain relevant in a rapidly shifting political environment where loyalty to party structures increasingly conflicts with broader democratic principles and constituent representation.
Ochei’s exit is particularly significant given the broader context of defections roiling the Delta State APC. Rukevwe Ugwumba, a close ally of Senator Omo-Agege, also resigned on the same day as the former deputy senate president, citing concerns about the unfair distribution of political dividends and the failure to recognize those who labored to build the party from its foundation. Ugwumba specifically highlighted what she described as chaotic senate primaries that undermined the Urhobo people, suggesting deeper ethnic and structural tensions within the party’s Delta operations. As these prominent figures depart and speculation mounts about their next political homes, the APC faces serious questions about its ability to retain key stakeholders and remain competitive in a state where opposition parties are already sensing opportunity and preparing to capitalize on the ruling party’s internal discord.
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