Edo 2024: Ize-Iyamu Dismisses Ihonvbere’s Report, Says He’s in Governorship Race

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin-City

A governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has dismissed the report of an internal committee headed by the House of Representatives’ Majority Leader, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, which excluded him from the list of aspirants cleared to contest the governorship primary of the party, saying the purported report was a mere rumour.

The report purportedly pruned the number of aspirants to two from each senatorial zone, totalling six.
Addressing a mammoth crowd of supporters and some party leaders on arrival at the Benin Airport yesterday, Ize-Iyamu dismissed the report just as he said that the National Working Committee (NWC) had given clear directives that all aspirants for the governorship race are free to purchase nomination forms.

Ize-Iyamu was APC’s governorship candidate during the September 19, 2020 election, and the standard bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2016.
The governorship aspirant, who hails from Benin Kingdom in Edo South senatorial district, also stated that he would not take Edo people’s support for granted.
He also described his relationship with Senator Adams Oshiomhole as cordial, saying the former governor is his senior brother whom he holds in high esteem.
“He (Oshiomhole) is my older brother and I respect age. We have worked together for many years. He is the leader of our party and a distinguished senator,” he said.

He said: “I want to assure you that I am in the race and by next week, by the grace of God, I will collect the form. Any Edo person is worthy of the ticket and I’m not a stranger. I want to assure you that your support will not be in vain and there is nothing to worry about.
“When you are contesting for an election, there are bound to be intrigues and all kinds of rumours and stories. The highest organ of our party issued a statement by the publicity secretary and particularly to Edo governorship election and specifically said that all those who have aspirations to run for governorship should go and collect the forms.

“And that they are the only ones to set up a screening committee, which they will do at the appropriate time and if you look at the earlier time table released, you will find the schedule there. Let me announce that by next week I will collect the form.

“I know there were rumours that some people have been excluded but by that NWC release, that is not possible anymore. The only people that can exclude aspirants is the committee set up by the NWC. I want to assure you that I will contest and win the election.”