The candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the Oredo Federal Constituency in the 2027 general election, Dr. Osamwonyi Irowa, has urged eligible Edo residents to take advantage of the ongoing voter registration exercise by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register and participate in the election.
Irowa, who retired as Permanent Secretary in the Edo State Ministry of Health in 2022, also condemned the growing trend of vote-buying, describing it as a major threat to Nigeria’s electoral process.
The Consultant Gynaecologist and Chief Medical Director (CMD) of Irowa Medical Centre, Benin City, said Edo people had repeatedly elected the wrong persons to represent them, adding that this was responsible for the poor performance of many political office holders.
Speaking with journalists in Benin City, Irowa said his aspiration to represent Oredo Federal Constituency was driven by the desire to provide quality representation and contribute meaningfully to governance.
“I discovered that we have been sending the wrong persons to represent us and the results are obvious. You can’t ask a mechanic to go and carryout a surgical operation and expect him to do it well and again there is no vacuum in life. The good people are running away from politics, they say it is dirty, but the results is that the wrong persons are there.
“And do you know what ?
On the ongoing voter registration and transfer of voter registration, Irowa appealed to eligible voters who were yet to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to register, while those registered outside their current locations should apply for a transfer to enable them vote conveniently.
“My sincere appeal is that those who don’t have Voters card should go and register and those who registered in distance place should go and do transfer, because on that day, there will be restricted movement. If your are voting in Ikpoba Hill, and you are in St Savoiur, you will be restricted from movement.
“Please don’t imagine selling your vote, because your vote is your future and we must take our destines in our hands.” He said.
Dr. Osamwonyi Irowa has had a distinguished career spanning both the public and private healthcare sectors. During his time in the Edo State civil service, he played a significant role in shaping health policies and strengthening healthcare infrastructure, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
He was actively involved in coordinating the state’s response to the pandemic, overseeing the procurement of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers, enforcing safety protocols and championing public vaccination campaigns aimed at containing the spread of the virus across communities.
