The political waters of the Orhionmwon/Uhunmwode Federal Constituency were stirred into a tempest this week following the formal declaration of Prof (Dr.) David Osarumwense Osifo for the 2027 House of Representatives seat—a move critics are labeling “political inconsistency and moral deficit.”
The declaration, which took place at the residence of Hon. Osawe Osayemwere has been met with swift backlash as stakeholders point to a glaring flip-flop that threatens the Professor’s standing as a “bridge-builder.”
The ‘Gifts of December’ and the March Betrayal
The primary bone of contention stems from a documented endorsement on March 11, 2025, where Prof. Osifo—acting as a prominent local leader—publicly threw his weight behind Dr. Washington Osifo for the same legislative seat.
Sources close to the constituency’s leadership expressed shock at the Professor’s sudden “about-face,” particularly following reports that he was a beneficiary of Dr. Washington Osifo’s Yuletide generosity.
It is alleged that Prof. Osifo accepted substantial “stomach infrastructure”—including bags of rice and a cow—during the last Christmas season, only to turn around months later to challenge the very man he had endorsed.
”This isn’t just politics; it’s a character crisis,” said one aggrieved stakeholder who requested anonymity. “How can a man of such high academic standing reconcile collecting Christmas patronage from an aspirant in December and then declaring against him in April? It calls into question the consistency and integrity of the leadership he promises.”
Constitutional Violations and the Resignation Row
Beyond the moral quagmire, Prof. Osifo now faces a daunting legal hurdle. Despite his political declaration, the professor remains a staff member of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH)—a position that places him in direct violation of federal civil service rules and recent presidential mandates.
Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s latest directives, all public servants and political appointees eyeing elective offices for the 2027 cycle were mandated to vacate their positions to ensure a level playing field and maintain the neutrality of government institutions.
Public Service Rules and the Nigerian Constitution generally require public servants to resign at least 30 days before an election, but political ethics and specific administration directives often demand immediate resignation upon the commencement of partisan activities.
With three years still left before his official retirement, the call for Prof. Osifo to exit the classroom and the clinic before entering the political trenches has reached a fever pitch.
A Call to the Minister of Health
In a formal petition gaining momentum within the constituency, constituents are calling on the Honorable Minister of Health to demand an immediate letter of resignation from Dr. Osarumwense Osifo.
The argument is simple: the Orhionmwon/Uhunmwode people can not afford a “part-time” candidate whose primary loyalty is split between his government salary and his political ambitions.
Critics argue that the turbulence of the Green Chambers requires a representative who is not silenced by financial patronages or compromised by stomach infrastructure politics.
”If Prof. Osifo can not be consistent with a simple endorsement. How can he be trusted to stand firm for our constituency when the financial lures of the National Assembly begin to call?” the petition reads.
The ‘Gap’ in Integrity
While Prof. Osifo’s declaration speech, “I Stand in the Hedge to Bridge the Gap,” was high on Shakespearian rhetoric, the emerging narrative suggests the “gap” most in need of bridging is his own credibility.
As the 2027 race heats up, the people of Orhionmwon/Uhunmwode are left to wonder: Is this a visionary leader seeking to salvage the constituency, or a career academic caught in the web of “cow and rice” politics?
