The Bright Campaign Organisation has rejected what it described as the unlawful substitution of its candidate for the House of Representatives primary election, insisting that Egharevba Bright Osakpamwan remains the duly nominated candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for Orhionmwon/Uhunmwode Federal Constituency.
In a statement issued on Thursday by its spokesman, Onyia Harrison, the organisation alleged that Bright validly emerged as the party’s candidate after fulfilling all constitutional and administrative requirements, including purchasing the nomination form, paying the prescribed fees, submitting the required documents and participating in the party’s primary election.
According to the statement, Bright’s emergence reflected the democratic choice of ADC delegates and was not the result of appointment or political patronage.
The campaign’s reaction followed the appearance of the name and credentials of Festus Osaigbovo Osagie on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) candidate portal.
However, the organisation argued that the upload of another individual’s details did not invalidate what it described as the lawful outcome of the party’s primary election.
It called on the relevant authorities to explain the circumstances under which another candidate’s credentials were uploaded despite what it maintained was the decision reached through the party’s internal processes and endorsed by the appropriate national organs.
The organisation also expressed concern over what it described as attempts by some individuals within the party to manipulate the candidate list for political and personal interests.
“We will not allow the democratic mandate freely given to our candidate by ADC delegates to be stolen through administrative manipulation, backroom arrangements or the alteration of party records,” the statement said.
The campaign urged the ADC national leadership and prominent party stakeholders, including former Edo State Governor John Odigie-Oyegun, Ehigie Uzamere and Osariemen Osunbor, to make public all records and resolutions relating to the conduct of the primary election and the submission of the party’s candidate to INEC.
It also called on INEC to clarify the circumstances surrounding the upload of the disputed credentials and ensure that its records reflect the candidate it said was legitimately produced through the party’s primary election.
Maintaining that Bright remains its candidate, the organisation said it possesses documentary evidence, including payment receipts, completed nomination forms, primary election records and other relevant party documents, to support its position. It added that it would pursue all lawful and constitutional avenues to protect what it described as the mandate freely given to its candidate by party delegates.
The campaign further urged its supporters to remain calm, vigilant and law-abiding, stressing that while it would not resort to violence, it would resist any unlawful attempt to overturn the outcome of the primary election.
Responding to the allegations, Festus Osaigbovo Osagie dismissed the claims, saying the decision on who represents the ADC rests with the party.
“It is the party’s decision to choose whoever will represent it. Is it Egharevba that will choose who represents ADC? Whatever he is doing is his own decision,” Osagie said.
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