Ex-Lawmaker Says Leaving APC For NDC Miscalculation

Former member of the House of Representatives and aspirant for the Edo South Senatorial ticket under the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Ehiozuwa Agbonayinma, has expressed disappointment over his decision to leave the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying the political move turned out differently from what he had anticipated.

Agbonayinma made the remarks during an interview on Arise Television on Friday, where he reflected on his decision to join the opposition party and the experience that followed.

According to him, his decision to leave the APC was informed by the belief that the NDC would provide Nigerians with a stronger and more credible political alternative ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He said he had expected a platform built on fairness, internal democracy and transparency but later became dissatisfied with developments surrounding the party’s primary election process.

Reflecting on the outcome of his political decision, the former lawmaker used a strong metaphor to explain his disappointment, saying moving from the APC to the NDC felt like escaping one difficult situation only to encounter something worse.

“Leaving APC for NDC was like leaving a frying pan and ending up in hellfire,” Agbonayinma said while reacting to the conduct of the party’s primaries.

He alleged that the process was characterised by irregularities and failed to reflect the standards he had expected from a party positioning itself as an alternative political force.

Agbonayinma noted that his expectation had been that the opposition would distinguish itself through stronger internal structures and a more transparent approach to party administration.

The former federal lawmaker’s comments mark a notable shift from his earlier position when he exited the ruling party. At the time of his resignation from the APC, he had criticised the party’s internal operations and expressed hope that the opposition would offer a different political direction.

His latest remarks come amid increasing political realignments and strategic repositioning across parties as politicians prepare for the 2027 elections and continue to assess their options within Nigeria’s evolving political landscape.