Youths protest reelection bid of Edo Assembly Deputy Speaker

By Jethro Ibileke

A re-election campaign flag off bid by the Deputy Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Osamwonyi Atu, turned sour on Friday, as hundreds of youths from his constituency staged a protest against him over alleged unfulfilled campaign promises.

Atu who represents Orhionmwon East Constituency in the Assembly had gone to Abudu, the administrative headquarters of Orhionmwon Local Government Area, for campaign, only to meet stiff resistance from hundreds of angry youths who took over major streets of the town.
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‎The youths, under the aegis of Concerned Orhionmwon East Youths, vowed to resist the exercise, insisting that the embattled lawmaker must first fulfil promises he made during the 2023 electioneering campaign.
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Amongst others, ‎the protesters who carried placards with various inscriptions, accused Atu of neglecting critical issues affecting the constituency, including the failure to address a prolonged power outage said to have lasted over 15 years, as well as the non-completion of a comprehensive school project.
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‎Responding, the embattled lawmaker dismissed the allegations, attributing the protest to backlash from individuals affected by the State’s anti-cultism law recently passed by the Assembly.
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‎According to him, “Those protesting are pained by the anti-cultism law. The law has come to stay.”
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On his part, the Coordinator of the Osamwonyi Atu Campaign Organisation, Martins Ozakpolor, alleged that the protesters were sponsored by a rival aspirant seeking to discredit the deputy speaker.
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He maintained that the lawmaker has delivered on key campaign promises, including the construction of a comprehensive school in the constituency.
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‎Ozakpolor further disclosed that Atu was received by members of the Abudu Elders Council, who offered prayers for the success of his re-election bid.