The just concluded primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has produced Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the former Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), candidate in the 2016 gubernatorial race in Edo which produced Godwin Obaseki, as Edo State governor.
Chairman of the Edo State APC Primary Election Committee, Governor Hope Uzodinma, on Monday declared Ize-Iyamu winner of the election after collating the results turned in by the Returning Officers in the 18 local government areas of the state, in the direct primary election adopted for the exercise.
Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, who voted in his Constituency at Ugboko ward 5, Iguogodo, in Orhiomwon local government area of the State, polled 27, 838 votes, while his closest rival, Dr Pius Odubu scored 3, 776, while Mr Osaro Obaze pulled 2, 751 votes.
Ize-Iyamu, shortly after casting his vote, advised the Governor of Edo State, Mr Godwin Obaseki, to return to his original politcal party, the All Progressive Party, after he and his Deputy, Comrade Philip Shaibu had officially decamped to the Peoples Democratic Party, where they are expected to contest in the party’s governorship primary, scheduled for Thursday, June 25.
It would be recall that one of the aspirants, Mr Osaro Obaze had stepped down few days to the primary, throwing his weight, with those of his supporters and entire campaign structure behind Pastor Ize-Iyamu.
It was not clear however, if former Edo state Deputy Governor, Dr. Pius Odubu, who served with Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, also withdrew from the primary to support Ize-Iyamu, although he had been one of the first to renege on the earlier touted consensus arrangement and had only a few days ago refuted the story of his stepping down and stated categorically on his social media Twitter handle story, that he would not step down for Ize-Iyamu.
With the result and barring any other forseen or unforseen circumstances, Pastor Ize-Iyamu would face other contenders from other political parties, especially the incumbent goverrnor of the state, in the September 19, 2020 governorship election in the state.
