Elder Roland Osakwe, a prominent member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, has expressed dissatisfaction with the results of the screening committee that former governor Adams Oshiomhole allegedly put together in order to narrow down the field of candidates for governor. Oshiomhole may be prejudiced in favor of a few strong contenders, according to Osakwe’s allegations of foul play during the screening process.
He questioned the criteria and reasoning behind the committee’s choices, highlighting disparities such as the rejection of seasoned contenders like Senator Oserheimen Osunbor, a former governor and law professor, while appearing to favor less qualified individuals. He cited cases in which the committee was said to have supported people with dubious histories or prior accusations.
Osakwe expressed doubts about the impartiality and openness of the screening procedure, speculating that Oshiomhole’s decisions would be influenced more by personal goals or connections to Governor Godwin Obaseki than by the APC’s best interests. Due to these misgivings, Osakwe conjectured about possible hidden agendas influencing the committee’s choices, such as purported commercial aspirations or political alliances between Oshiomhole and Obaseki.
The results of the screening indicate that Oshiomhole might be working for the opposition party by eliminating the strongest candidates in favor of weaker ones. Alternatively, how can a sane leader suggest that a former governor and law professor is being disqualified while a recently retired permanent secretary and a political novice would be eligible for the position?
“We are being informed that a certain former Commissioner during the administration of Adams Oshiomhole and current member of the House of Representatives is anointed candidate, while a former two-time commissioner under his regime and the immediate past Minister of State for Budget and Planning, Clem Agba, and Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, former Chief of Staff and Secretary to the Edo State Government, who was also the APC gubernatorial candidate in the immediate past governorship election in Edo State in 2020, are being disqualified.
It should be remembered that the government accused this preferred candidate of fraud in 2015, during Oshiomhole’s second term of office.
“Therefore, the question would be why Oshiomhole or his screening committee would allow a dubious candidate to run in an election when Governor Godwin Obaseki could easily use the government’s apparatus to have him disqualified. “Do people smell foul play here? It could be a plot to field a candidate who can be easily defeated or one who can be disqualified by a court of law so that the Obaseki candidate can win the elections with ease or not at all. If not, what makes this anointed candidate better qualified than Clem Agba, a former clergyman, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, and Professor Oserheimen Osunbor?
Follow for more on www.instagram.com/findwhosabi_/