Dennis Idahosa, the winner of the Edo State All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election conducted on Saturday, was once accused of international fraud.

Although two people are claiming to have won the election, the national leadership of the party has recognised Idahosa, whose emergence was announced by Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State, the chairman of the election committee.

Uzodinma said Idahosa scored 40,453 in the direct primary election to beat 11 other contenders.

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Stanley Ugboaje, the returning officer for the election, however, claimed that Monday Okpebholo was the winner, having secured 12,145 votes, ahead of Idaho’s 5,536.

As the political drama unfolds, here are a few things about Idahosa. He served in the government of Adams Oshiomole as commissioner for investment and public/private partnerships until his defection from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at the time.

His justification for the decision was that he detested the way Oshiomole was abusing then President Goodluck Jonathan.

“The reason I am joining PDP is that I don’t agree with the way Oshiomhole abuses our elders and President Jonathan. I stand to support President Jonathan for the presidency,” he said.

But the state government said that was untrue. Louis Odion, the then commissioner for information and orientation, stated that there were a lot of petitions by people allegedly swindled by Idahosa. An administrative panel was reportedly set up to investigate the allegations.

“After weeks of forensic investigations, the panel’s findings were startling. Last week, Mr. Idahosa became aware that the administrative panel was on the verge of formally requesting him to answer those weighty charges,” Odion said.

“However, in the name of decency, justice, and the international image of our country, we can only encourage Mr. Idahosa to come out in the open and answer the sundry allegations of 419 levelled against him. Otherwise, the long arms of the law, though may be delayed by his new powerful friends, will ultimately prevail.”

A petition titled ‘Petition Against Hon. Dennis Idahosa Over Allegations of Involvement in International Fraud Levelled Against Him by Edo State Government’ was submitted to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on February 9.

Signed by Momoh Prince and Igewe Ude-Umamta, both convener and director, strategy, research and documentation of a group called the Guardian of Democracy and Development Initiative, the petition stated that some people had accused Idahosa of financial scams, the amount of which was unstated.

It urged the EFCC to investigate the allegation against Idahosa by the government of Oshiomole.

Idahosa currently represents the Ovia Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.

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“Basically, I will say that is Nigerian politics for you and I find it very laughable and I know that you know too that when strange friends are fighting, they don’t use sweet words for each other like you have in the case of couples undergoing divorce; they will never say good things about each other. As you can see for yourself, this is my residence, where I live. You can see how transparent the whole compound is,” Idahosa said of the allegations.

“There were no serious contending issues that led to my resignation. It was the decision of both myself and my people for us to move from the present government to another platform under the able leadership of our President and Commander-in-Chief, President Goodluck Jonathan.”