THE Ekiti State chapter of Nigeria Democratic Party (NDC) has staged a protest at the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) In Ado Ekiti, following the exclusion of the names of two of its senatorial candidates from the Commission’s final list of candidates for next year’s general elections.
The protesters, led by members and supporters of the NDC and the Obedient Movement in the state, demanded the immediate restoration of the names of Adeyinka Ali for Ekiti North Senatorial District and Ayokunle Olusegun for Ekiti South Senatorial District, insisting the two candidates emerged from the party’s primary election on May 29, this year, and had earlier been recognised by INEC as the legitimate candidates for the two senatorial districts.
The protesters expressed concern that the names were missing from the final list published by INEC, a development they described as unacceptable and a threat to the democratic process.
Adediji Segun, speaking on behalf of Olusegun, said the protesters were at the INEC office to demand the restoration of the two candidates to the list, noting that the candidates had invested heavily in the party and questioned the basis for their sudden exclusion.
He said: “We want INEC to integrate their names back to the lists. They are the financiers of the party and one person cannot just wake up one day and be deciding for us. We don’t want that.”
Leader of the Obedient Movement in the state, Emmanuel Olamidotun, added that the movement would not accept injustice against any candidate of the party, specifically demanding total removal of the alleged perpetrator, David Adesua, from the parry, describing him as a “cancer” to NDC.
Olamidotun also called on the leadership of the party to respect the outcome of its primary election and refrain from actions that could undermine the interests of its candidates and supporters ahead of the elections.
He recalled that INEC had previously confirmed Olusegun and Ali as NDC’s candidates for Ekiti South and Ekiti North Districts, respectively, making their subsequent exclusion from the final list particularly disturbing.
Similarly, the party’s state Publicity Secretary, Olawale Olatunde, warned that failure to restore the candidates could have serious consequences for the party’s electoral prospects and undermine its chances of making an impact in Ekiti and the country at large in the elections.
“If those names are not returned, Obi should prepare for failure come 2027 general,” he cautioned.
The protesters urged INEC to urgently review the circumstances surrounding the exclusion of the two candidates and ensure that the names were reflected in the final list.
