By Osato Imafidon
ORHIONMWON, Edo State – In what political analysts are describing as a “tsunami of consensus,” the federal legislative ambition of Dr. Washington Osa-Osifo, PhD, has reached a decisive crescendo.
The final piece of the electoral puzzle fell into place this weekend as Ugbeka Ward joined fifteen other wards in a unanimous endorsement, cementing Dr. Osifo as the sole choice of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Orhionmwon/Uhunmwode Federal Constituency.
The Ugbeka Affirmation: A Mandate Sealed
The atmosphere in Ugbeka was electric as party elders, youth leaders, and market women gathered for the symbolic presentation of the party’s flag.
The gesture—a ritual typically reserved for the climax of a campaign—was an unmistakable signal that the internal contest within Orhionmwon has been “sealed and settled.”
“We are not just endorsing a candidate; we are affirming a destiny,” a ward leader noted during the presentation.
“Dr. Osifo has been tested by the fires of executive lawlessness and emerged as pure gold. Orhionmwon cannot afford to send a novice to Abuja; we are sending our best forensic mind.”
A Tour of Resilience
The endorsement follows an intensive community-to-community campaign tour that saw Dr. Osifo traversing the rugged terrain of the constituency.
At every stop, the narrative remained consistent: a celebration of the “Legislator-Scholar” who chose four years of political exile over compromising his integrity.
The “Fourteen Legislators” saga, where Dr. Osifo was denied his seat in the Edo State House of Assembly under the previous administration, has become the bedrock of his current appeal. Voters across the wards expressed a deep-seated desire to “repay” the candidate for his steadfastness and the physical trauma he endured in defense of the Constitution.
From Statecraft to National Legislation
Having recently served as the Commissioner for Water Resources and Sanitation under the “avuncular” leadership of Governor Monday Okpebholo, Dr. Osifo’s transition is seen as the logical next step in the right direction.
His campaign has been built on three primary pillars utilizing his double-doctorate intellect to craft precision legislation, leveraging his executive experience to bring federal water and infrastructure projects to the grassroots, and acting as a bulwark against executive overreach in the National Assembly.
The Road to Abuja
With Orhionmwon now firmly consolidated, the political gravity shifts toward the neighboring Uhunmwode Local Government Area.
However, with a 16-ward sweep and the “sole candidate” status in his home base, Dr. Osifo enters the final stretch of the primary season with an intimidating momentum.
As the “Talking Pen” of the New Edo movement continues to document this journey, the consensus is clear: Orhionmwon has spoken with one voice.
The “solemn decree” of Ugbeka has turned a campaign into a coronation, setting the stage for what many expect to be a landslide victory for the man they call the “Shining Star in the Wilderness.”