According to a video posted on the official YouTube channel of Arise News on Friday, June 5, 2026, NDC House of Representatives aspirant for Esan North East/South East Federal Constituency, Benjamin Oyamendan, has reacted to comments made by NDC presidential candidate Peter Obi regarding the controversies surrounding the party’s recent primaries.
Speaking during an interview, Oyamendan addressed Obi’s appeal to aggrieved aspirants to remain calm despite complaints of irregularities and alleged attempts to impose candidates in some states. He said he understood the position Obi occupies within the party and acknowledged that the presidential candidate was acting in line with his responsibility to promote unity.
According to Oyamendan, party members should not be surprised by Obi’s remarks because leaders are often expected to encourage peace while internal disagreements are being resolved. However, he stressed that calls for calm should be accompanied by efforts to address the concerns raised by dissatisfied aspirants.
Reflecting on Obi’s statement, Oyamendan said, “When Peter Obi said everybody should calm down, as a leader, you shouldn’t expect anything more from him than what he said.”
He added that many aspirants remain hopeful that the party leadership will review complaints arising from the primaries and take steps to ensure fairness.
He maintained that resolving disputes transparently would strengthen confidence among members and improve the party’s chances of presenting a united front ahead of future elections.