A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, Elder Roland Osakwe, has slammed the outcome of the screening committee reportedly assembled by former governor, Adams Oshiomhole, to prune down aspirants vying for the governorship. Osakwe alleged foul play in the screening process, suggesting that Oshiomhole may be biased towards some strong contending aspirants.

He questioned the factors and rationale behind the committee’s decisions, pointing out discrepancies such as the disqualification of experienced candidates like former governor and Professor of Law, Senator Oserheimen Osunbor while seemingly favouring less qualified aspirants. He highlighted instances where individuals with questionable backgrounds or past allegations were reportedly endorsed by the committee.

Osakwe raised concerns about the transparency and fairness of the screening process, suggesting that Oshiomhole’s actions may be driven by personal agenda or alliances with Governor Godwin Obaseki, rather than the best interests of the APC. These suspicions led Osakwe to speculate on potential ulterior motives behind the committee’s decisions, including alleged business ambitions and political collaborations between Oshiomhole and Obaseki.

“The screening outcome suggests that Oshiomhole may be working for the opposition party by screening out the most formidable aspirants out of the race for weaker ones or else, how can a rational leader suggests that while a recently retired permanent secretary, a political neophyte would be qualifying for the job, a former governor and Professor of Law is being disqualified.

“While a former two-time commissioner under his regime and 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, we are being told that a certain former Commissioner during the administration of Adams Oshiomhole and now member House of Representatives is anointed candidate.

“It would be recalled that during the second term administration of Oshiomhole in 2015, this favoured aspirant was accused by the government of fraud.

“The question, therefore, would be that why would Oshiomhole or his screening committee pass a questionable aspirant to stand in an election where Governor Godwin Obaseki can easily approach the courts to get him disqualified with the instrumentality of government.

“Edo people smell suspicion somewhere – it’s either a plot to field an easily beatable candidate and/or that can be disqualified by the court of law to enable the Obaseki candidate win the elections easily or nothing. Otherwise, what qualifies this anointed aspirant more than Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor and former minister, Clem Agba?

“Findings has shown that all actions of Oshiomhole since last year have been geared towards the outcome of the APC producing the weakest, most contaminated and unpopular aspirants as APC’s candidate to the detriment of more qualified and untainted aspirants in order to give Mr. Asue Ighodalo, Governor Godwin Obaseki’s candidate an easy pathway to Osadebey House.

“Therefore, in Oshiomhole’s political game, Idahosa was positioned as an APC flag bearer with the odds stacked against him. It appears that he is being set up to fail in order to further Oshiomhole’s personal agenda with Obaseki in their bid to settle their differences and come to terms with the business interest in existence between the trio, Asue Ighodalo being a member of the Economic Team of Adams Oshiomhle while he holds sway as the Governor of Edo State for eight years between 2008 and 2016.

“Speculations have arisen linking Senator Oshiomhole’s personal interests to his alleged business ambitions with Governor Godwin Obaseki. It is believed that Oshiomhole desired to forge lucrative partnerships with Obaseki, benefiting financially from their political collaboration especially with his recent romance with his government”.

Osakwe praised the National Working Committee of the party for promptly issuing a statement denouncing the screening committee.

Osakwe called on President Bola Tinubu, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, among other stakeholders to be wary of the antics of Oshiomhole, especially with videos that surfaced on line showing the APC Chairman of Etsako West LGA following one of the aspirants, Denis Idahosa on campaigns of Edo North Senatorial District, alleging that Idahosa was the anointed candidate of the party by Comrade Adams Oshiomhole. Equally a video also emerged on social media showing the party Chairman of Etsako East LGA stating the same.

“All the above scenarios will create crisis within the party in Edo State if not checked, therefore there’s the need for a thorough scrutiny of the leadership and executives of APC in Edo State is necessary by the National Leadership of the party to call them to order as a commitment to upholding integrity and meritocracy within the APC,” he said. (Daily Sun)

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