By Deborah Coker
Abuja, Dec. 20, 2025
Senator Ned Nwoko (APC-Delta) has joined a wave of tributes mourning the passing of his predecessor, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, who died in the early hours of Friday. Nwoko, who now represents the Delta North Senatorial District, issued a detailed condolence message that framed Nwaoboshi not just as a colleague, but as a foundational architect of the region’s modern political landscape.
In his statement to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Nwoko described the late senator as a “consummate party administrator,” a title that carries significant weight in Nigeria’s complex political ecosystem. This role, often operating behind the scenes, is crucial for building consensus, managing factions, and ensuring electoral victory—a skill set Nwoko highlighted as central to Nwaoboshi’s legacy.
Beyond party mechanics, Nwoko memorialized Nwaoboshi as a “long-standing political figure and dedicated community leader,” whose influence stretched back to the 1990s. His contributions, Nwoko noted, were instrumental in the “social and political evolution of Delta as a state, Delta North, as well as the Nation.”
“It is with a profound sense of loss and grief that I received the sad news,” Nwoko stated. “He held key positions as party Chairman, Civil Commissioner, and Senator among other offices. On behalf of myself, family, and political associates, I extend my deep commiseration to his family on this difficult moment of the loss of their patriarch.”
Nwaoboshi’s political journey was a masterclass in endurance and strategic positioning. Hailing from Isieke, Umuekea quarters in Ibusa, his career began in the late 1970s as an aide to the governor of the old Bendel State—a foundational experience in governance. He later navigated national institutions as Chairman of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, a role that demanded managing one of Nigeria’s most historic and challenging public assets.
His deep understanding of Delta politics was solidified as a Political Adviser to former Governor James Ibori, followed by a six-year tenure as Delta State Commissioner for Agriculture and Special Duties (2000-2006). This period was critical for state-building and connecting government resources to community needs.
Perhaps his most defining political role was his six-year stint (2008-2014) as State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta. As party chairman, Nwaoboshi would have been the chief strategist, conflict resolver, and campaign manager—the very embodiment of the “consummate party administrator” Nwoko praised. His subsequent resignation to successfully contest for the Senate in 2015 demonstrated how effective party management could be leveraged for direct electoral mandate.
Senator Nwaoboshi served the Delta North Senatorial District from 2015 to 2023, where he was known by the reverential nickname “the Oracle in Politics,” a testament to his perceived wisdom, foresight, and influence. His passing marks the end of an era for Anioma land and Delta State, closing a chapter on a career that spanned from the Second Republic into the contemporary political age.
Nwoko concluded his tribute with a prayer: “May the Almighty grant the entire family and indeed the people of Oshimili, Anioma, and Delta at large the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.” The sentiment echoes across the state, as colleagues and constituents remember a man whose life was inextricably woven into the fabric of Delta’s political history.
Edited by Sadiya Hamza
