Labour Party governorship candidate (LP), in the forthcoming election in Edo state, Dr. Isaiah Osifo, has said that fielding a candidate facing corruption trial by the All Progressives Congress in the election is a mockery of President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption fight.

Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the governorship’s candidate of the APC and four others are currently standing trial in the Federal High Court, Benin over an alleged N700m fraud preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC.

The four other defendants in the suit are former Edo State People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman, Dan Orbih, state PDP chairman, Tony Aziegbemi, former Deputy Governor Lucky Imasuen, and Efe Anthony.

Addressing journalists on Thursday in Benin, Dr. Osifo said it is a show of shame for the party that prides itself as fighting corruption to have fielded a candidate who is currently standing corruption trial.

“I decided to challenge the choice of the APC’s governorship candidate because as Labour party, it is our responsibility to enlighten and educate the public on the need to halt desperate people who have nothing to offer other than blind pursuit of personal aggrandisement,” he said.

He urged Edo people to vote wisely, not allowing APC to deceive them to vote for a candidate who is enmeshed in corruption charges.

Responding, the spokesperson, Pastor Osagie Ize-iyamu campaign organisation, John Mayaki said Ize-Iyamu is an unblemished candidate for the election.

“Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu is an unblemished candidate respected by all. The case that has been distorted and unfairly tied to Pastor Ize-Iyamu for political reasons has to do with the EFCC investigations of how the PDP managed privately-sourced campaign funds in 2015,” he said.

He said members of the PDP are are also parties to the case, saying that Ize-Iyamu has gone on the record to clarify things and will be cleared soon by the court because there is no evidence of wrongdoing.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/edo-fielding-candidate-facing-corruption-charges-mockery-of-buharis-anti-corruption.html

Actions always prove why words means nothing. Corruption is a permanent resident in APC and that's why Ize Iyamu qualified as their best bet. So there is no mockery anywhere. Infact if hushpuppi was from Edo, and had shown interest in the APC ticket, they would have given it to him unopposed in a red carpet ceremony.

As you you don't know Nigerian politics is a joke my brother

Olisa Metuh collected Dasuki funds and his trial has been concluded and he is in jail.
But Dasuki who gave him d money is in his house.
Same money Ize Iyamu collected and is in his house.
Same money mallam Shekarau collected and is in in the senate.
Same money Rtd Col Jafaru Isa collected and is in his house.

Spot on. More and more people are waking up to this plain fact. In saner climes, Ize yam yam thief will resign from any reasonable/responsible position he holds, including stepping down from the pulpit. But not so in Nigeria, he is rather contesting for governor with even the youths blinded by mediocre partisanship or 30k online trolling fees, supporting him. And we wonder why our nation is not making headway?? Na wa! Last last Nigeria go dey alright sha

Same thing happened in Imo State, Uzodinma had a corruption case on his neck before being forced on his people as their Governor. To show how Buhari loves corruption he has already given an executive order, stating that this thief must win the election as they can't afford to lose the State.