2027: Crisis in Edo North ADC, Senatorial Candidate Drags Party to Court Over Replacement
By DADA AYOKHAI
Crisis is brewing in the Edo North chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) over the alleged replacement of its senatorial candidate for the district, Prince Musa Braimoh.
Braimoh emerged as the party’s candidate for the Edo North Senatorial District during its primary election, and his name was included in the first list of candidates uploaded by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
However, in the recently released final list of National Assembly candidates by INEC, Aruna Abubakar was listed as the ADC candidate for the district.
Speaking with journalists, Braimoh said he had filed a suit at the Federal High Court, Abuja, challenging his substitution.
He said he was the sole senatorial aspirant who bought the nomination form and participated in the party’s primary monitored by INEC, as required by law.
“But I was shocked that my name was replaced with that of a candidate who neither bought a form nor participated in the primary,” he said.
He alleged that the ADC leadership in Edo North acted in connivance with the state chairman of the party, Hon. Pius Alile, to substitute his name.
He also alleged that he was being witch-hunted for allegedly flouting the leaders’ directive not to support Alhaji Abubakar Atiku during the party’s presidential primary.
According to him, the state leadership had directed all party members to support Rotimi Amaechi during the ADC presidential primary, but he refused because he had earlier pledged his commitment to Alhaji Atiku.
Meanwhile, an ADC leader, who spoke on condition of anonymity, accused Prince Braimoh of anti-party activities and alleged that he was using the party’s platform to negotiate with a rival party’s senatorial candidate for a monetary offer to step down after securing clearance.
Responding, the publicity secretary of the ADC, Chris Ojekere, said Braimoh was aggrieved and that the party would sit down and resolve the issue.
2027: Crisis in Edo North ADC, Senatorial Candidate Drags Party to Court Over ReplacementBy DADA AYOKHAI
