INEC Mix-Up Won’t Change Our Candidate, NDC Declares on Edo South Senate Race

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has clarified that Mrs Epelle-Asemota Bridgitte Osayuki remains its officially sponsored candidate for the Edo South Senatorial District, dismissing an error in the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) recent publication of candidates’ particulars.

In a statement issued by its Director of New Media and Strategic Communication, Agada Abuh Theophilus, the party said last weekend’s INEC publication correctly listed Mrs Epelle-Asemota’s name and personal details but superimposed the photograph of another aspirant and published the credentials of a different person.

The NDC described the mix-up as “an embarrassing” error caused by “mischievous elements within the INEC.” It stressed that the party had duly submitted Mrs Epelle-Asemota’s name, passport photograph and credentials to the commission in line with the Constitution and the Electoral Act.

“By the Constitution and the Electoral Act, no one can be a candidate of a political party unless sponsored by that party. Sponsorship is effected through the formal submission of the candidate’s name to the INEC. In this case, that process was duly followed,” the statement said. “We therefore wish to clarify that, in the eyes of the law, Mrs Epelle-Asemota Bridgitte Osayuki remains our candidate for Edo South Senatorial District.”

The party attached a copy of the successful upload of her particulars as evidence of formal sponsorship and noted that it is solely INEC’s responsibility to publish candidates’ details. It called on the commission to explain how the error occurred.

The NDC also addressed what it described as an “orchestrated campaign of calumny and hate speech” aimed at ethnicising Mrs Epelle-Asemota’s candidacy. It rejected attempts to question her eligibility on ethnic grounds, stating that she is a Nigerian citizen of Benin ancestry who has lived and worked in Benin all her life.
According to the party, her mother is Benin, she is married into the prominent Asemota family of Benin, and she is the wife of Major-General Steve Asemota (rtd.), a former General Officer Commanding 1 Division and younger brother of the first Senior Advocate of Nigeria from Benin, Chief Solomon Asemota. She is also the younger sister of the Iyase of Benin and has children who are Benin.

Mrs Epelle-Asemota previously contested the House of Representatives seat for Ovia Federal Constituency on the platform of the Labour Party in the 2023 general elections. The NDC said she won but was “manipulated and rigged out.” She has spent 35 years in various capacities in the Edo State public service and has held leadership positions including Chairman of the Principals’ Association of Edo State, the first female chairperson of the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS) in Edo State and Nigeria, and Secretary of the Trade Union Congress for several years.

She was also a leading figure in the Obidient Movement. The party emphasised its deliberate policy of projecting women, youths and persons with special needs, describing Mrs Epelle-Asemota as “eminently qualified.” It noted that she won the NDC primary and that the party refused pressure to replace her.

While acknowledging that other qualified aspirants had expressed interest in the ticket and remain valid members of the party, the NDC said their disappointment should not lead to actions that undermine the party. It disclosed that a national reconciliation committee has been set up to address grievances arising from the primaries.

The party further noted that some of the individuals expressing disappointment had themselves sponsored other candidates who have been duly accepted by the NDC for various offices. “Their disappointment should not lead them to rock the boat, as they all stand to benefit from the party, both now and in the future. The fact that they did not get everything they wanted for themselves and their candidates is no reason to bring down the roof or disparage the party,” the statement said.

According to the NDC, the party had counted on the leadership and experience of these individuals to guide the primaries and resolve grievances. It stated that all processes leading up to the primaries had their inputs, and that national leadership has been managing the issues that arose, just as it has done in every state.

The party rejected allegations of imposition, insisting that leaders and elders at the state level were the ones who guided the primary process as a new party. The role of national leadership, it said, has been to harmonise and manage interests and conflicts that could not be resolved at the state level.

It called on those who were given leadership positions and who coordinated consultations and guidance during and after the primaries to play their roles, noting that they coordinated and made the recommendations of all candidates. “If there was any imposition, they were the ones who carried it out, and the party has been managing the situation to resolve it,” the statement added.
The NDC urged all concerned to focus on the bigger picture, close ranks and work in the interest of the party.

The statement urged party leaders who coordinated the primary process to play their roles in resolving residual issues and called on all members to close ranks and focus on the larger interest of the party.