Former Governor of Edo State and former National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has on Monday declared to contest to represent Edo North Senatorial District in the 2023 elections. Oshiomhole made the declaration during his 70th birthday celebration at his country home in Iyamoh, Etsako West Local Government Area. “I have resolved to contest and I am sure to get the ticket and become the candidate to represent Edo North senatorial district come 2023,” he said.
While addressing friends and colleagues, the former governor said “It is true that for quite sometimes, many of our people have asked me why don’t you contest for the Senate and I said first APC has crisis, let us fix the crisis, let there be convention because you cannot begin to discuss what kind of baby you are going to have when you are not married.
“I said until APC is fixed you cannot talk of contesting election using the platform, have been chairman of the party, I know the danger we face if we are not able to fix the party and this was completed and consummated on the 25th of March and we have now elected a brand new National Working Committee and a brand new National Executive Council under the able leadership of a former governor, a former minister and a current senator, Adamu Abdullahi.
“We have done what needs to be done and I am inspired by the position of the new leadership for us to do what we need to do to retain power in 2023. I am therefore convinced that this is the time to proceed to the next step of the conversation which is about who lead the great people of Edo North in the senate by 2023.
“After all consultations, you must be convinced that you can do it and improve on it. These times that people have been asking me, I have also been examining myself because I do not want to go to the senate and sit down, listen to motions and collect salary at the end of the month.
“I do not believe that I need to go to the senate to take a sabbatical to take a rest because that is an important institution where men and women are elected by their people to contribute to affairs that affect their people, how funds are allocated and to ensure that the people of Nigeria have value for their resources and money.
“We lay more emphasis on the rotation of people, I am more concerned about even development, I have made it clear before as president of the NLC that democracy means that the leaders must listen to the people and if he deviates from that, the people have the right to interrogate the leader, if I did that as ordinary Nigerian I believe that as a senator, your interest cannot be ignored in the red chamber in Abuja.
He said he will meet with the incumbent senator, Francis Alimikhena, who has indicated interest to recontest under the same party.
“You all know how the incumbent became the candidate for Edo North senatorial district, he was denied the PDP ticket, and we allowed him to fly our party’s flag, which he had used twice to represent us.
“We voted for him twice and there is nothing wrong in him voting for me in return.
“I will personally meet with him because I want us to still keep the Afemai unity together and I think he will be the Director General for my campaign team for the election.
