NDC Faults INEC Over Candidate Mix-Up For Edo South Senatorial Flagbearer 

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has dismissed the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) publication of the wrong photograph and credentials for its Edo South Senatorial candidate, insisting that Mrs. Epelle-Asemota Bridgitte Osayuki remains the party’s duly nominated candidate for the 2027 general election.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by the party’s Director of New Media and Strategic Communication, Agada Abuh Theophilus, the NDC said although INEC correctly published Mrs. Epelle-Asemota’s name, the commission erroneously superimposed another aspirant’s photograph and attached the credentials of a different individual.

The party described the development as an “embarrassing error,” alleging that it was orchestrated by “mischievous elements within the INEC.”

According to the statement, the party fully complied with all constitutional and electoral requirements by submitting Mrs. Epelle-Asemota’s name, passport photograph and credentials to the electoral commission.

“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 INEC. In this case, that process was duly followed.

“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 stated.

The NDC said it had attached evidence of the successful upload of Mrs. Epelle-Asemota’s particulars to demonstrate that the party completed the nomination process, stressing that responsibility for publishing candidates’ details rests solely with INEC.

It, therefore, called on the Commission to explain how the mix-up occurred.

The party also condemned what it described as an orchestrated campaign of misinformation, hate speech and ethnic profiling targeted at its candidate.

Rejecting claims questioning her eligibility, the NDC maintained that Mrs. Epelle-Asemota is a Nigerian citizen of Benin ancestry who has lived and worked in Benin throughout her life.

The statement noted that her mother is from Benin, she is married into the prominent Asemota family, and is the wife of retired Major-General Steve Asemota, a former General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 1 Division of the Nigerian Army. It also said she is the younger sister of the Iyase of Benin and has children of Benin heritage.

Highlighting her political and professional credentials, the party said Mrs. Epelle-Asemota contested the Ovia Federal Constituency seat on the Labour Party platform during the 2023 general election, claiming she won the election but was “manipulated and rigged out.”

The NDC added that she spent 35 years in the Edo State public service and held several 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 nationally, as well as Secretary of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in the state.

It also described her as a prominent figure in the Obidient Movement, saying her emergence aligns with the party’s commitment to promoting women, youths and persons with special needs.

According to the statement, Mrs. Epelle-Asemota emerged through the party’s primary election, and despite pressure from some quarters, the NDC declined to substitute her candidature.

The party acknowledged that other qualified aspirants contested the ticket and remain valued members of the NDC, but cautioned against actions capable of undermining the party over the outcome of the primaries.

It disclosed that a national reconciliation committee had already been constituted to address grievances arising from the primary elections.

While noting that some aggrieved members had successfully sponsored other candidates who emerged in the primaries, the NDC urged them to place the collective interest of the party above personal ambitions.

“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 read.

The party further rejected allegations that candidates were imposed by the national leadership, insisting that the state leadership and party elders supervised the primary process, while the national leadership only intervened to harmonise interests and resolve disputes that could not be settled at the state level.

It called on party leaders who coordinated the primaries to help resolve lingering disagreements and urged members to close ranks and work together in the overall interest of the NDC ahead of the 2027 general election.