Ehiozuwa Agbonayinwa, a senatorial aspirant of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Edo South, has said he regrets leaving the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the NDC.
A former member of the House of Representatives, Agbonayinwa said his movement to the NDC had become from frying pan to hellfire.
He spoke during an interview on Arise News’ News Day, it was reported Friday.
Agbonayinwa said he won the NDC senatorial primary for Edo South but was being denied the chance to appear on the ballot.
He said the party conducted a direct primary after aspirants could not agree on a consensus candidate.
“I’ve moved from frying pan to hellfire,” said Agbonayinwa. We had the direct primary after we couldn’t find consensus. And we couldn’t do that, they kept us in the room at the time with all other contestants for us to step down for each other.
“We went through intense processes. I know they are new, but this is something I have never had with APC or PDP. Never. where people were asked to go for the primary… The primary was conducted today, June 5, and elections have not been announced.” May 29 was the day the primary was conducted.
The former governorship aspirant alleged that the national leader of the NDC, Senator Seriake Dickson, encouraged him to buy the senatorial expression of interest and nomination forms.
He however said Dickson had later denied ever asking him to do so.
“The national leader of NDC, Senator Seriake Dickson, who is a very good friend and brother to me for many years,” Agbonayinwa added. We’re colleagues. He was governor, now senator, a brother I hold in deep respect.
When we were to leave NDC, I called him. He sent it to me and said I should go 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.
“But to my greatest surprise, the same man who asked me to go and buy the form, we had a meeting this morning and he said he never said so.”
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