By Bayo Bernard
Senator Iyiola Omisore, may have used his trump card to wriggle out of his graft case with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, at least for now.
On July 3, 2016 the former deputy governor of Osun state and candidate of the Social Democratic Party, SDP in the September 22 governorship election in the Sunshine State, as the state is popular, was arrested and later detained by the anti-graft agency over alleged N1.3b National Security Adviser, NSA cash receipt.
He was later released on bail following an undisclosed arrangement with the Ibrahim Magu led EFCC.
But more than two years after he was humiliated by EFCC, the ruling party may have offered to drop the case against him in order to get his support to win the crucial governorship election in his state.
The magazine has learned that the issue formed part of the discussion with Ekiti state governor elect, Dr. Kayode Fayemi when the latter paid him a visit to enlist his support for the All Progressives Congress, APC governorship candidate for the September 27 rerun election in the state.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC had last week, directed that a rerun election be conducted after two leading candidates in the election, Gboyega Oyetola of APC and Nurudeen Ademola Adeleke of PDP failed to secure a straight win during the first ballot on September 22.
Adeleke led the poll with a marginal 353 votes which the electoral umpire said was below 3, 498 cancelled votes recorded during the election. INEC said it acted based on constitutional provision.
Since the electoral body picked a date for the rerun, Omisore who came a distant third in the election has become the beautiful bride courted by APC and PDP, as top politicians from the two leading parties besieged his home to enlist his support for their candidates.
The former Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriation has refused to commit himself to any agreement with PDP big-hats who visited him. PDP stalwarts that have paid Omisore visit include Senate President Bukola Sarakki and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
However, few hours after Fayemi met Omisore, a deal appeared to have been struck.
Omisore had tweeted in his official twitter handle after the meeting with Fayemi thus: “With @OfficialAPCNg Ekiti state governor elect @kfayemi during his visit today. #goodgovernanceinosunstate #OsunDecides2018.”
The tweet, accompanied with Omisore and Fayemi photograph at the meeting, some political analysts insist has finally confirmed suggestion that Senator Omisore has agreed to work for the victory of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Omisore also on Tuesday night met with APC National Chairman, Adams Oshionmhole and other APC stalwarts to put finishing touches to the agreement the magazine was told.
According to sources privy to the meetings with Fayemi and Oshiomhole, Senator Omisore was also offered other juicy things by the APC apart from his request that his case with EFCC be dropped.
“Senator Omisore was told that the EFCC would be directed to stand down on his case and has been penciled down for a federal appointment by President Buhari if he agreed to work for the APC,” one close associate of Omisore told the magazine last night.
According to the source, the former deputy governor is still angry with PDP’s decision to award the party’s governorship ticket to Adeleke who he considers as a usurper and inexperience.
“But the current situation has become for Senator Omisore a survival tactics. He was forced to decide on whether to confront the almighty federal government, which has a graft case against him and his former party which betrayed him,” the source stated.
