Edo ADC House Candidate Decries Name Substitution

Felix Omoh-Asun, based in Benin City, reports that the Egharevba Bright Osakpamwan Campaign Organisation has raised concerns over the appearance of Deacon Festus Osaigbovo Osagie's name on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) portal as the ADC candidate for the House of Representatives election. The organisation expressed disappointment, stating that the name and credentials of another candidate had surfaced on the electoral commission's portal, even though Bright was the candidate of the party.

This development, according to the campaign group, compromises the integrity of the party's internal processes. They have called upon INEC, former Edo State Governor, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, Senator Ehigie Uzamere, Prof. Osariemen Osunbor, and the ADC national leadership to disclose the records and resolutions related to the primary election and the submission of the party's candidate to INEC.

The organisation emphasized that Bright had participated in and won the ADC primary election held to select the constituency's candidate. They stressed that Bright's victory was based on the votes of delegates, including purchasing the nomination form, paying the required fees, submitting necessary documents, and participating in the primary election.

While acknowledging that Osagie's name and credentials were currently listed on the INEC portal, the campaign organisation argued that the upload should not automatically invalidate Bright's victory. They declared that they would not accept any attempt to overturn the mandate they believed Bright had obtained through the party's internal processes.

In response, Festus Osagie, the candidate himself, maintained that the party has the authority to select the representative, asserting that the decision rests with the party's delegates and that whatever the Egharevba is doing is his own decision.