The candidate of the KOWA Party in the postponed Edo State governorship poll, Thompson Osadolor, has been expelled by his party for endorsing the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Pastor Ize-Iyamu.
Osadolor had on Saturday announced his withdrawal from contesting the election hinging his decision on the postponement by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
He said, “I am not satisfied with the postponement of the election. They (INEC) knew that we would win the election; that was why they postponed it.
“Having done that, they have destabilised us. That is one of the reasons we withdrew.”
Osadolor, however, endorsed the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mr. Osagie Ize-Iyamu, and urged KOWA supporters to cast their votes for him.
According to him, the PDP is a better alternative because there are similarities in the manifestoes of both parties.
“PDP did not make any financial commitment to us. We have no financial agreement.”
However, the KOWA party under which platform Osadolor was contesting the election has said it is appalled by the decision taken by the candidate and his campaign team due to the financial challenges posed by the postponement of the elections for another two weeks.
A statement by Jude ‘Feranmi, the National Youth Leader of the party described his decision as unfortunate, embarrassing and a direct opposite of what it party represents.
“His actions and that of his campaign team is without consultation and against the guidelines of our party both at the state level and at the National Level.”
“What we represent as a party is a clean break from the models of governance and patronage system of politics that is currently entrenched in the People’s Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress.”
“A similarity in the manifesto of a party does not therefore represent a sufficient and necessary criterion for an endorsement by our party.”
“Comrade Mark Adebayo who heads the National Secretariat of our party has thereby issued a notification of dismissal to Barrister Thompson Osadolor authorised by the entire BOT/NEC of the party which takes effect immediately. He does not therefore qualify to bear our flag in the forthcoming elections for the governorship elections on September 28.”
“We are currently consulting with our Legal Advisors on the legal implications and the next steps to take on this unfortunate incident. The appropriate bodies including INEC will get our letters of notification to this effect on Wednesday due to the Public Holidays.”
“We are therefore urging our supporters to hold the fort and continue to propagate our message to rid Edo State of the political class that is responsible for the rot it is currently experiencing.”
