When Political Culture Turns Inward: The Ibori Question In Delta APC Crisis

By ZIK GBEMRE

Violence at the Ward Level — A Warning Signal

THE violence that trailed the recent All Progressives Congress (APC) ward and local government congresses in Oghara, Delta State, has reopened old debates about the state’s political culture.

Among those affected was House of Representatives member Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu, who condemned the attacks and pledged to cover medical expenses for injured supporters, declaring that “violence has no place in our politics.”

But critics argue that her condemnation cannot be divorced from Delta’s political history — particularly the era of her father, former governor James Ibori, whose time in office marked a turning point in how elections were contested in the state.

The deeper question emerging from the APC congress crisis is this: Is Delta witnessing the consequences of a political system long built on “win-at-all-cost” tactics?

Tracing the Roots of Political Aggression

Before 1999, many observers describe Delta politics as competitive but comparatively less violent. The emergence of James Ibori as governor that year, however, coincided with a shift toward high-stakes power struggles.

His administration was often accused by opponents of entrenching aggressive political structures, consolidating power through loyal networks, and influencing succession outcomes — notably the emergence of Emmanuel Uduaghan as governor in 2007.

Supporters of Ibori argue that his tenure brought political stability and influence to Delta. Critics counter that it institutionalised political patronage and normalized hard-edged tactics that sidelined merit and deepened factional rivalries.

Whether one sees that era as consolidation or coercion, few deny that it fundamentally reshaped Delta’s political environment.

The Irony of Victimhood

Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu’s recent experience has therefore triggered sharp commentary. Detractors say her condemnation of violence rings hollow in a political culture they believe her family helped shape.

To them, the current crisis is not an anomaly — it is continuity.

If ward congresses have already descended into chaos, analysts warn that party primaries and the 2027 general elections could be even more volatile.

The concern is less about one politician’s experience and more about the sustainability of a political tradition that thrives on internal combat.

A Political System Consuming Itself?

One of the more striking dimensions of the unfolding crisis is how former allies within Delta’s political elite now appear locked in rivalry. Networks once aligned under a dominant figure have matured into independent power blocs.

Political protégés often evolve into competitors. Structures designed for control can fragment into factions.

In that sense, the APC congress violence may reflect not simply local grievances but the natural implosion of a system built on dominance rather than consensus.

A Moment for Reflection

Erhiatake’s statement that “violence has no place in our politics” may yet prove significant — if it signals genuine reform rather than rhetorical positioning.

Delta’s political actors face a pivotal moment. Will they double down on entrenched tactics, or will this episode serve as a reset?

For now, what is clear is that violence at the grassroots level exposes deeper unresolved tensions within the state’s political architecture.

The question is not merely who is to blame — but whether Delta politics is capable of evolving beyond the methods that shaped it.