ABUJA — Ehiozuwa Agbonayinwa, a senatorial aspirant for the Edo South seat under the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has publicly expressed deep regret over his decision to defect from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the NDC.

Allegations of Betrayal and Electoral Irregularity

In a candid appearance on Arise News’ News Day on Friday, June 5, 2026, the former House of Representatives member described his experience within the NDC as chaotic and disheartening, stating, "I’ve moved from the frying pan to hell fire."

Agbonayinwa’s grievances center on two main issues:

• Electoral Uncertainty: He alleges that despite participating in a direct primary election held on May 29, the party has yet to announce the official winner as of June 5. He expressed frustration at the lack of transparency, noting that in his previous experiences with the APC and the PDP, he had never encountered such administrative disarray.

• Political Gaslighting: The aspirant leveled a serious accusation against the NDC’s National Leader, Senator Seriake Dickson. Agbonayinwa claims that Senator Dickson personally encouraged him to purchase the party's senatorial nomination forms. However, during a recent meeting, he alleges that the Senator denied ever making such a suggestion, leaving him feeling betrayed by a long-time political ally and friend.

  

A Pattern of Discontent

Agbonayinwa, who is also a former governorship aspirant, noted that the party attempted to pressure him and other contestants to step down for one another during a closed-door meeting, which ultimately failed to produce a consensus. He stated that the lack of clear procedures has left his candidacy in limbo, potentially blocking his path to the ballot for the upcoming election.

The Current Climate

This public spat highlights the internal tensions currently plaguing the NDC as the party navigates its role in the 2027 election cycle. For Agbonayinwa, the situation serves as a cautionary tale about party politics and the volatility of political alliances in Nigeria.

The NDC has yet to issue an official response to the allegations leveled by the aspirant.