Edo South Senate aspirant Agbonayinwa alleges NDC to ticket crisis, regrets defection from APC

A former member of the House of Representatives and senatorial aspirant for Edo South under the banner of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Ehiozuwa Agbonayinwa, has expressed deep disappointment over the party’s handling of its primary election process, describing his decision to leave the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the NDC as a move “from the frying pan to hell fire.”

Speaking during an appearance on Arise Television’s News Day programme on Friday, Agbonayinwa alleged that despite emerging victorious in the party’s senatorial primary election, he is being denied the opportunity to contest the forthcoming election.

The former lawmaker claimed that the NDC has failed to announce the outcome of the primary election conducted on May 29, more than a week after the exercise was held, creating uncertainty among aspirants and party members.

According to him, the party initially attempted to broker a consensus arrangement among aspirants before eventually conducting a direct primary election after negotiations failed.

“We had the direct primary after we could not reach a consensus,” Agbonayinwa said. “They kept us in a room with all the other contestants and asked us to step down for one another, but we couldn’t agree.”

He noted that all aspirants participated in what he described as a rigorous and transparent process, adding that his experience in the NDC has been unlike anything he encountered during his years in either the APC or the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“We went through rigorous processes. I understand they are a new party, but I have never experienced anything like this while I was in APC or PDP. The primary election was held on May 29, and today is June 5, yet the results have not been announced,” he stated.

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Agbonayinwa also accused the national leader of the NDC, Seriake Dickson, of reversing his earlier support for his senatorial ambition.

The former governorship aspirant disclosed that Dickson, whom he described as a long-time friend and political associate, personally encouraged him to contest the Edo South senatorial seat on the NDC platform.

According to Agbonayinwa, he initially intended to contest for a seat in the House of Representatives after leaving the APC but reconsidered after discussions with the former Bayelsa State governor.

“The national leader of NDC, Senator Seriake Dickson, is a very good friend and brother to me. When I was considering my next political move, I called him and he invited me to his house,” he said.

“He asked me why I couldn’t contest for the Senate under NDC. I told him I would think about it and consult with my political leaders. After consulting, I informed him and thanked him for the suggestion.”

However, Agbonayinwa said he was shocked when Dickson allegedly denied making the recommendation during a meeting held earlier on Friday.

“To my greatest surprise, the same man who asked me to buy the nomination form said this morning that he never told me to do so,” he alleged.

The development has further heightened tensions within the NDC ahead of the election, with Agbonayinwa insisting that the party must clarify the status of the primary election and the candidature of aspirants who participated in the process.

He warned that the uncertainty could undermine confidence in the party’s internal democratic procedures and affect its credibility among supporters.