Protest erupts in Edo South over NDC senatorial ticket

A group of aggrieved members of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Edo South Senatorial District on Sunday staged a protest in Benin City, rejecting the emergence of Mr Sunny Aguebor as the party’s candidate for the Edo South Senatorial seat in the 2027 general election.

The protesters, who marched around the vicinity of the Oba of Benin Palace, accused some influential leaders of the party in Edo State of attempting to impose Aguebor on members despite the outcome of the party’s primary election, which they claimed did not favour him.

Speaking on behalf of the group, the protesters’ spokesman, Mr Osaze Idemudia, alleged that the democratic ideals upon which the NDC was founded were being undermined by individuals pursuing personal political interests at the expense of party members and supporters.

According to Idemudia, members of the party in Edo South participated peacefully in the primary election and freely voted among aspirants, including Hon. E.J. Agbonyima and Mrs Osayuki Epelle-Asemota, whom he described as the leading contenders who enjoyed the support of the majority of delegates.

He alleged that Aguebor was neither the preferred choice of party members nor a product of the wishes expressed during the primary process, accusing some prominent political figures of presenting him to the party’s national leadership as the consensus candidate of the district.

The protesters further claimed that Aguebor’s emergence had generated widespread dissatisfaction among party faithful in Edo South, warning that the development could have adverse consequences for the party’s electoral prospects in future elections if not urgently addressed.

They also accused certain party stakeholders of acting contrary to the interests and aspirations of the Benin Kingdom, insisting that the controversy surrounding the senatorial ticket was capable of damaging the image and credibility of the party across Edo State.

Calling for the intervention of the party’s national leadership, the group urged the NDC National Chairman and the party’s presidential candidate to suspend Aguebor’s nomination and instead consider candidates who, according to them, emerged through a transparent and democratic process.

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They specifically appealed to the leadership to choose from among Hon. Agbonyima and Mrs Epelle-Asemota.

The protesters maintained that members of the party in Edo South would resist any attempt to impose a candidate on the district, stressing that adherence to democratic principles and respect for the outcome of party primaries remained essential for the unity and growth of the NDC.

Efforts to obtain the reaction of Mr Sunny Aguebor proved unsuccessful, as he declined to comment on the allegations when contacted by our correspondent.