The Edo State Chapter of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has reaffirmed Mrs Epelle-Asemota Bridgitte Osayuki as its candidate for the Edo South Senatorial District election, dismissing claims attributed to Senator Roland Owie challenging the outcome of the party’s primary election.

In a statement signed by the State Publicity Secretary, Azeez Obogeh, the party accused Owie, the Chairman of the NDC Edo State Elders Council, of making statements containing “fallacies, innuendo, and outright misconstrued narrations” about the primary and the emergence of the party’s candidate.

The party said Owie joined the NDC on May 6, 2026, and was initially welcomed as a political asset capable of strengthening the party in Edo South and across the state.

However, the party alleged that shortly after joining, Owie began openly promoting Sunday Aguebor as his preferred candidate for the Edo South Senate seat, arguing that such actions breached party and electoral guidelines and created an unfair advantage over other aspirants.

According to the statement, efforts were subsequently made at both the national and state levels to achieve consensus among the aspirants, but the process failed, leading to a primary election.

The NDC said all interested aspirants were screened by a committee constituted by the party’s National Working Committee before participating in the primary.

It added that the primary was conducted across the 18 Local Government Areas of Edo State, monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and supervised by the duly constituted party electoral committee.

The party said the results collated and announced by the electoral committee established Mrs Epelle-Asemota as the winner after she secured the highest number of votes.

“The Party wishes to clarify to the general public that the candidate sponsored by the NDC for Edo South Senatorial District is Mrs Epelle-Asemota Bridgitte Osayuki,” the statement said.

The party further argued that under the Constitution and Electoral Act, only a political party can sponsor a candidate for an election, with such sponsorship formalised through the submission of the candidate’s name to INEC.

The NDC said that process had been duly completed in favour of Epelle-Asemota.

On Owie’s reported argument concerning who could contest or vote in Edo, the party maintained that the Nigerian Constitution protects the rights of eligible citizens to vote and be voted for, irrespective of their state of origin.

The NDC also took exception to what it described as Owie’s repeated attribution of party positions to himself.

According to the party, Owie was never appointed or selected as “Edo State National Leader” or “State Leader,” adding that his recognized role before the announcement of caucus leaders was Chairman of the Elders Council, a position it described as advisory.

“The Constitution of the Nigeria Democratic Congress clearly spells out the party hierarchy and positions, and the claim being made by our respected stakeholder is not found therein,” the party stated.

The Edo NDC said its State Publicity Secretariat had already published the names of candidates who emerged from the party primaries for the National Assembly elections, insisting that the matter had therefore been settled.

The party also accused Owie of having participated in processes leading to the primaries, including consultations and nominations for other legislative positions, making his opposition to Epelle-Asemota’s candidature “shocking.”

The NDC leadership, under State Chairman Engr. David Olukoga, consequently urged party members to remain united and avoid being drawn into what it described as attempts to destabilise the party.

It called on members to focus on campaigning for the party’s presidential candidate and running mate, as well as other NDC candidates in Edo State, ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The party maintained that Mrs Epelle-Asemota Bridgitte Osayuki remains its duly nominated and sponsored candidate for the Edo South Senatorial District.