A Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) senatorial aspirant in Edo South, Ehiozuwa Agbonayinwa, has expressed regret over leaving the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the NDC, describing the decision as a move from the frying pan into hell fire.
Appearing on Arise News’ News Day on Friday, the former member of the House of Representatives alleged that despite emerging victorious in the party’s senatorial primary election, he is being denied the opportunity to appear on the ballot.
The former governorship aspirant claimed that the NDC conducted a direct primary after efforts to reach a consensus among aspirants failed.
According to him, aspirants were initially encouraged to step down for one another, but when no agreement was reached, the party proceeded with the primary election.
Agbonayinwa said the process was rigorous and noted that, despite being new, the NDC had handled the exercise in a manner he had never experienced during his time in either the APC or the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He expressed concern that although the primary election was conducted on May 29, the outcome had yet to be officially announced as of June 5.
The senatorial aspirant also alleged that the national leader of the NDC, Senator Seriake Dickson, personally encouraged him to contest for the Senate under the party.
Agbonayinwa said he had contacted Dickson before joining the NDC and subsequently met with him at his residence, where the former Bayelsa State governor reportedly suggested that he should seek election to the Senate on the platform of the party.
According to him, he later consulted with his political leaders and decided to pursue the senatorial ticket after appreciating the encouragement.
However, Agbonayinwa said he was surprised when Dickson allegedly denied ever asking him to purchase the nomination form during a meeting held on Friday.
The aspirant maintained that the situation had left him disappointed, insisting that his experience in the NDC had been more frustrating than what he encountered in the APC and PDP.
