Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
The Edo South Unity Forum (Edo South Global Coalition) has strongly criticized the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Orhionmwon Local Government Area Chapter, over the public expulsion of Mr. Osazuwa Ogiemwonyi, describing the action as a “hasty, callous, and premature public trial” that undermines the principles of natural justice.
In a statement jointly signed by its President, Dr. Bright Omoregie, and Secretary, Hon. Charles Osariemen Agbonison, the socio-political group accused the party of publicly indicting Ogiemwonyi with serious allegations without first conducting a transparent investigation or giving him the opportunity to defend himself through a fair hearing.
The forum said the development raises serious concerns about respect for due process within political parties and warned against what it described as the growing trend of using internal disciplinary matters as instruments of public character assassination.
“The principles of natural justice are unequivocal. Every individual is presumed innocent until proven guilty through a fair, transparent and impartial process,” the statement read.
According to the group, political disagreements should never be allowed to undermine the fundamental rights and dignity of party members, stressing that publicising unproven allegations risks causing irreversible damage to individual reputations while eroding public confidence in democratic institutions.
The forum expressed particular concern over what it described as the disposition of the ADC leadership in Orhionmwon and Edo State to substitute due process with public condemnation.
It argued that such actions send the wrong message to young people seeking to participate in politics, warning that arbitrary public sanctions could discourage youth involvement in democratic governance.
Describing Ogiemwonyi as one of the emerging young political voices from Orhionmwon, the organisation maintained that regardless of political differences, no individual deserves to be convicted in the court of public opinion without an impartial adjudicatory process.
“Whether one agrees with his politics or not, no young leader deserves to be condemned in the court of public opinion through allegations that have not been subjected to any credible legal or impartial adjudicatory process,” the group stated.
The Edo South Unity Forum therefore called on the leadership of the African Democratic Congress at the local government, state and national levels to uphold democratic values by ensuring that disciplinary proceedings are conducted with fairness, transparency and respect for the rights of every member.
It also demanded the immediate withdrawal of the statement issued by the ADC Orhionmwon Local Government Chapter, describing it as “highly provocative and prejudicial.”
In the alternative, the forum challenged the party to publicly present credible evidence and clearly outline the disciplinary procedures through which Ogiemwonyi was investigated, given an opportunity to defend himself and found culpable of the allegations contained in the statement.
The organisation stressed that until such due process is established, any public pronouncement portraying Ogiemwonyi as guilty remains unacceptable and inconsistent with universally recognised principles of justice and fair hearing.
Reaffirming its commitment to the interests of Edo South and the Benin Kingdom, the forum said its intervention goes beyond defending one individual and is aimed at protecting democratic values, the rule of law and the rights of young people to participate in politics without fear of arbitrary persecution.
The statement concluded that political parties must remain institutions of justice, accountability and fairness rather than platforms for arbitrary public condemnation.
“Justice delayed may be painful, but justice denied through public condemnation without due process is far more dangerous to democracy,” the forum declared.
