Leaving APC For NDC Is Moving From Frying Pan to Hellfire – Senatorial Aspirant
A former member of the House of Representatives, Ehiozuwa Agbonayinma, has openly regretted his decision to leave the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC). He accused the opposition party of conducting a flawed senatorial primary in Edo State. Agbonayinma, an aspirant for the Edo South Senatorial District ticket, said his experience […]
A former member of the House of Representatives, Ehiozuwa Agbonayinma, has openly regretted his decision to leave the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
He accused the opposition party of conducting a flawed senatorial primary in Edo State.
Agbonayinma, an aspirant for the Edo South Senatorial District ticket, said his experience in the NDC had shattered his expectations that the party would offer a credible alternative platform ahead of future elections.
Speaking on Arise Television, the former lawmaker described his defection as a costly political miscalculation.
- World Environment Day: Embrace mass tree planting to combat desertification, FG urges Nigerians
- FACT CHECK: Old Niger Images Falsely Linked To Oyo Kidnapping
“I had thought NDC was the messiah to redefine and rescue Nigeria. I didn’t know it was leaving the frying pan, and now it ended up in hellfire,” he said.
The former federal legislator alleged that the party failed to adhere to its own guidelines during the conduct of the Edo South senatorial primary, insisting that the process did not comply with provisions of the Electoral Act.
According to him, aspirants were initially encouraged to explore a consensus arrangement but were unable to reach an agreement on a candidate.
“The Electoral Act is very explicit. Either you go by consensus or direct primaries, and we couldn’t reach an agreement,” Agbonayinma stated.
He further claimed that contestants were confined to a meeting room and repeatedly urged to step down for one another before the exercise.
“They kept us in a room with other contestants for us to step down for one another, and we couldn’t do that,” he alleged.
Agbonayinma maintained that he eventually participated in the primary and emerged victorious but said the result had remained officially unannounced since May 29.
“Where people were asked to go to the primary, I won that primary, and since May 29, the election has not been announced,” he said.
The former lawmaker also alleged that a returning officer involved in the exercise was caught manipulating results.
The development, he noted, has further undermined confidence in the process.
“An election where a returning officer was caught changing results,” he added.
Agbonayinma expressed particular disappointment with the role allegedly played by the party’s national leader, Seriake Dickson, whom he described as a long-time political associate and friend.
According to him, Dickson had encouraged him to seek the Senate ticket on the platform of the NDC but later distanced himself from that position.
“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 claimed.
The former lawmaker said the developments had left him emotionally devastated and questioned his decision to abandon the ruling party.
“I’m weeping and regretting,” he said.
The NDC, however, has defended the emergence of its candidates, maintaining that its nomination processes were conducted through consultations, consensus-building efforts and grassroots primaries.
The party also advised dissatisfied aspirants to utilise its internal appeal and reconciliation channels to address grievances arising from the exercise.