By Simeon OSAJIE
The Edo South Chapter of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) on Wednesday began mobilization for the 2027 election as it reaffirmed that Sunny Aguebor remained the authentic candidate of the party in the district and vowed to campaign across the nooks and cranny of the district to win the election.
Speaking at a strategic meeting to commence campaigns, National Leader of the party, Senator Rowland Owie said a primary election was duly conducted and Sunny Aguebor emerged as the candidate.
According to him, “Not because we don’t know what is happening. The Edo South Senatorial NDC primary election was conducted. I as the national leader of NDC was there and I know what happened during the senatorial primary presided over by the Vice Chairman and there were seven returning officers from the seven local government areas, they have the result of what they conducted, the result that was collated. It is unfortunate that people that you expect to behave well are now doing this.”
On his part, Sunny Aguebor said those involved would be prosecuted as the credentials and data uploaded into the INEC portal were his own except the first page where the name of his rival, Bridgette Osayuki Epelle-Asemota was replaced with his own.
“I was the one that won the primary. I have a certified copy here from Abuja.
“The primary was reported by the party to be peaceful and the party guidelines were followed. The guidelines set up were followed.
“INEC is guided by law and the Electoral Act and what does the law say? The law says candidates can be replaced either as a result of death or willful withdrawal.
“But some mischievous elements for whatever reason decide to impose or supplant this woman’s name somewhere on my own document. These documents are my documents. This picture was scanned. My scan picture is based on what I submitted in my form.
“Who now went to write this thing here is what I don’t know. But maybe as we go on we might have to do some prosecution here because somebody has committed a crime and the person has committed a crime parading herself or whatever. We have to do prosecution, nobody can change my name,” he said.