- I Regret Leaving APC For NDC – Senatorial Aspirant Cries Out
- Former lawmaker claims he won the Edo South primary.
- He alleges NDC leaders are denying him the ticket.
A former member of the House of Representatives and senatorial aspirant of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Edo South, Ehiozuwa Agbonayinwa, has expressed regret over his decision to leave the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the NDC.
Agbonayinwa described his experience in the party as moving “from frying pan to hellfire,” alleging that despite winning the NDC senatorial primary, he is being denied the opportunity to contest in the forthcoming election.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that speaking during an interview on Arise News’ *News Day* programme on Friday, the former lawmaker said the party conducted a direct primary after aspirants failed to agree on a consensus candidate.
According to him, the process that followed has left him disappointed, noting that he had never encountered such a situation during his time in either the APC or the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“I’ve moved from frying pan to hellfire. We had the direct primary after we couldn’t reach a consensus. They kept us in the room at the time with all other contestants for us to step down for each other, and we couldn’t do that,” he said.
“We went through rigorous processes. I understand that they are new, but I have never experienced this being with APC or being with PDP. Never. Where people were asked to go for primary. May 29 was the day the primary was conducted, today is June 5 and elections have not been announced.”
Agbonayinwa alleged that he emerged victorious in the Edo South senatorial primary but has yet to receive clarity regarding the party’s next steps.
The former governorship aspirant also claimed that the national leader of the NDC, Seriake Dickson, encouraged him to purchase the party’s senatorial nomination form.
Describing Dickson as a longtime friend and political associate, Agbonayinwa said the senator had personally suggested that he contest for the Senate under the NDC platform.
“The national leader of NDC, Senator Seriake Dickson, a very good friend and a brother to me for many years. We are colleagues. He was the governor, now senator, a brother I respect dearly,” he stated.
According to him, Dickson invited him to his residence and encouraged him to pursue a senatorial bid rather than his initial plan to contest for a seat in the House of Representatives.
“When we were to leave NDC, I called him. He sent it to me and said, I should come to the house.
“I went to his house, and he said, ‘Why can’t you go to the Senate under NDC?’ I say I will think about it, and for me, I was going for the House of Reps but when he offered that, I started thinking. I say I will consult with my leaders, which I did, and I told him, thank you.”
However, Agbonayinwa said he was surprised when Dickson allegedly denied making the suggestion.
“But to my greatest surprise, the same man who asked me to go and buy the form, this morning we had a meeting and he said he never said so,” he added.
The NDC leadership has yet to publicly respond to the allegations.
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