Ize-Iyamu picked by Oshiomole faction as Edo APC consensus governorship candidate

Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu has been picked by the the Oshiomole-led faction of the APC in Edo state as their consensus governorship candidate, as the state party crisis continues to linger.

Ize-Iyamu was named the consensus candidate in Abuja on Tuesday by the committee set up by the Oshiomole-led faction to screen about eight aspirants in the group.

He will be contesting for the party’s governorship ticket with the incumbent governor, Godwin Obaseki, who has been at loggerheads with Oshiomole. The direct primary has been scheduled for June 22.

The factional chairman of APC in the state, Mr Imuse, confirmed to PREMIUM TIMES that Mr Ize-Iyamu has been adopted as a “consensus” candidate of the APC.

“He was adopted (as) a consensus candidate yesterday,” Mr Imuse said. “He collected his nomination forms some hours ago.”

The party chairman said what has happened is a “welcome development” to the APC.

“It tells you the sense of unity in APC, for all the other aspirants to come together and present one aspirant for the primary. It shows the spirit of brotherliness and togetherness that APC is known for.”

Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu on Wednesday collected the nomination form for the governorship ticket of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at the national secretariat of the party in Abuja.

He was accompanied by five other aspirants who did not obtain a form for themselves.

Solomon Edebiri, Pius Odubu, Chris Ogiemwonyi, former deputy governor of Edo, and Charles Airhiavbere, a retired general, are among the aspirants that were previously seeking to fly the party’s flag.

Ize-Iyamu was the PDP governorship candidate in the last governorship election and defected to APC in November last year.

The Edo state governorship election is slated for September 19, 2020.