The National Rescue Movement (NRM), has decried the exclusion of the name of its candidate, Dennis Osaron Aikoriogie, by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), ahead of the September 21 governorship election.

NRM National Publicity Secretary, Olusola Afuye, in a statement on Friday, said failure of INEC to upload the name of its candidate, the party would scuttle the entire process.

He called on the electoral body to resist interfering in the internal affairs of the party and to implement the resolutions of the October 23, 2023 constituted NRM NEC meeting, which the Commission monitored.

He said: “The Leadership and entire family of the National Rescue Movement (NRM) condemns in strong terms the exclusion of its governorship candidate in the list published by the Commission on Sunday March 31, 2024.

“The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had displayed the list of candidates of the 17 political parties participating in the September 21 governorship election in Edo State.

“The INEC office in Edo State, led by the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr Anugbum Onuoha, displayed the list on its notice board and in all INEC offices across the 18 local government areas on Saturday, but mysteriously excluded the name of our candidate Dr Dennis Osaron Aikoriogie, who duly participated in the legitimate primaries monitored by INEC from National Headquarters Abuja and the State HoD GAP in Benin and widely reported in the media.

“The National Rescue Movement (NRM) demands that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should immediately upload the name and credentials of our candidate or risk scuttling the entire process which has cost the country a lot of taxpayers’ money.”

Also, he told INEC to apologise to NRM and its candidate in Edo for wrongly exposing the party to public ridicule.

“Finally, NRM calls on Nigerians and our supporters in Edo State especially, not to despair or relent, but remain steadfast and resolute to unite in resisting any anti-democratic tendencies intended to instil fear in them and set the stage for a dictatorial order and the erosion of our personal freedom and liberty as citizens, which they have been enjoying in the last few years since the return of democracy.

“The NRM as a party is positioned to redeem Nigeria from this ongoing hardship and offer credible alternative and is ready to prove its redemptive skill using Edo State as a case study. We plead with all our supporters to be patient,” he added. (Saturday Sun)

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