An aggrieved Edo South senatorial aspirant under the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Ehiozuwa Agbonayinma, has openly expressed deep regret over his decision to dump the All Progressives Congress (APC) for his new party, comparing the political defection to moving from a “frying pan to fire.”
Speaking during an appearance on Arise News’ News Day program on Friday afternoon, the former House of Representatives member asserted that he rightfully won the party’s senatorial primary ticket but is currently being blocked from having his name placed on the election ballot.
The former governorship hopeful further revealed that it was actually the national leader of the NDC, Senator Seriake Dickson, who originally pushed him to purchase the expression of interest and nomination forms.
To his shock, however, the party leader has now turned around to deny that such a conversation ever took place.
Sharing his frustration regarding his political switch, Agbonayinwa stated, “I’ve moved from frying pan to hell fire.”
Reflecting on the stalled internal process, the ex-lawmaker recounted, “We had the direct primary after we couldn’t reach a consensus. They kept us in the room at the time with all other contestants for us to step down for each other, and we couldn’t do that.”
Expressing his disbelief over the delays, he added, “We went through rigorous processes. I understand that they are new, but I have never experienced this being with APC or being with PDP. Never. Where people were asked to go for primary… May 29 was the day the primary was conducted today is June 5 and elections have not been announced.”
Detailing his interaction with the party leader, Agbonayinwa explained, “The national leader of NDC, Senator Seriake Dickson, a very good friend and a brother to me for many years. We are colleagues. He was the governor, now senator, a brother I respect dearly. When we were to leave NDC, I called him. He sent it to me and said, I should come to the house.”
He continued, “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, this morning we had a meeting and he said he never said so.”
