Edoror, who was impeached as Deputy Speaker in 2018, was in 2020 elected speaker by 17 lawmakers loyal to Adams Oshiomhole, former governor of the state.
The House of Assembly Candidate of the African Action Congress in Esan Central constituency, Comrade Kelvin Edokpa has debunked rumours making the rounds that he has stepped down for former factional Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Victor Edoror.
Edoror, who was impeached as Deputy Speaker in 2018, was in 2020 elected speaker by 17 lawmakers loyal to Adams Oshiomhole, former governor of the state.
Among the 17 lawmakers were 12 who were not sworn in since they were elected in 2019.
Their seats had been declared vacant amid the power tussle between the members of the assembly loyal to Oshiomhole and those who have the backing of Godwin Obaseki, the current state governor.
SaharaReporters gathered that Edoror approached Edokpa and allegedly offered him N15million to step down for him.
It was learnt that the AAC candidate rejected the offer.
Meanwhile, an audio where the ruling All Progressives Congress candidate was begging Edokpa to endorse him has emerged.
Below is part of the transcription of the audio:
Victor Edoror: Edokpa
Kelvin Edokpa: Greetings Elder.
Victor Edoror: I’ve been calling and calling you, do you have my number?
Kelvin Edokpa: I didn’t see your call I don’t have your number.
Victor Edoror: Where are you heading?
Edokpa: We are holding rally today and that’s what we are getting set for.
Victor Edoror: Please let me and you talk, this politics everyone can calculate it, unless we are deceiving ourselves as we calculate that’s why we make mistake, it’s good to contest elections, but you can align and you still get what you want.
Kelvin Edokpa: Elder what I want cannot come by alignment, because if you check carefully many things have transpired within this period, I’m a fighter for Esan land, my life right now is dead, only remaining the Esan spirit in me.
Victor Edoror: You are dead?
Kelvin Edokpa: Yes, this is spirit talking to you and if you offer me 1 billion Naira now and say take this, I will not align with you.
Victor Edoror: Okay what do you want?
Kelvin Edokpa: I want to contest the election.
Victor Edoror: Is it not to win?
Kelvin Edokpa: And I have done everything possible to win, if you want to align with me now then I will sit down with you and know the way forward. But if you want me to step down or something it will never happen, I will fight till my last blood. If this is what will kill me, let it kill me for the sake of my people, that is the kind of person I am, I’m sure even if you don’t know me by now, at least you are supposed to know some things about me, since 2017 there’s no day I wake up and don’t work for Esan Land, I work for Esan every day of my life, I don’t like the way things are going, I’m an investment broker for the past 12 years, my first son is 14 years and I started working in the Middle East there in Dubai particularly 2 years after giving birth to him. Do you know I have experience to bring in massive investment brokerage and partnership to our land?
Victor Edoror: Through the House of Assembly?
Kelvin Edokpa: Yes
Victor Edoror: It’s not possible.
Kelvin Edokpa: That is because you don’t know the dynamics of investment brokerage so it will be impossible for you or another person like you who don’t have such experience.