Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
Tension flared in Edo South Senatorial District over the weekend as members of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) staged a protest near the Oba of Benin’s palace, rejecting Mr. Sunny Aguebor’s emergence as the party’s senatorial candidate for the 2027 general election.
The protesters, led by spokesperson Osaze Idemudia, accused some party leaders of trying to impose Aguebor on members despite the results of the party’s primary election.
Addressing journalists, Idemudia said the NDC was embraced by Edo South voters because of its democratic ideals but alleged that certain individuals had hijacked the party to pursue personal interests contrary to the wishes of members.
According to him, party members in Edo South participated peacefully in the primary election and chose among leading aspirants, including Hon. E.J. Agbonyima and Mrs. Osayuki Epelle-Asemota.
He alleged that Aguebor was not the preferred candidate of party members and accused some prominent political figures of presenting him to the national leadership as the choice of the district.
The group claimed that Aguebor’s political ties, along with the alleged involvement of some party stakeholders in his selection, had generated widespread discontent among members across Edo South Senatorial District, a key voting bloc in the state.
They cautioned that if the issues were not promptly resolved, the ongoing disagreement could weaken party unity and negatively impact its chances in future elections in Edo State.
They also accused some party leaders of acting against the interests of the Benin Kingdom and alleged that the controversy surrounding the senatorial ticket could damage the party’s image in the state.
The group consequently called on the national leadership of the NDC, including the party’s national chairman and presidential candidate, to suspend the nomination of Aguebor and instead consider candidates they said emerged from the primary process.
The protesters specifically called on the party’s leadership to consider either Hon. E.J. Agbonyima or Mrs. Osayuki Epelle-Asemota for the senatorial ticket, describing them as the leading aspirants who emerged from the primary election process.
They vowed to oppose any attempt to foist a candidate on the district, stressing that the NDC must adhere to democratic norms and respect the outcome of its internal electoral process.
Efforts to obtain a response from Mr. Sunny Aguebor were unsuccessful, as he declined to comment on the allegations levelled against him.
