* Why Odubu, Ogiemwonyi, Airhiarvbere , Others Endorsed Ize-Iyamu For Edo Guber
By Hamilton Nwosa(Head, The New Diplomat’s Data and Poll Trcaking Desk)
Frontline governorship aspirant for the September 19 Edo State Governorship Election, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has collected his nomination forms for the state governorship election, stressing that the party’s adoption of the direct primary model is the best option under the present democratic process.
Fielding questions from reporters after picking the Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, Ize-Iyamu confirmed that he has received the endorsement from seven other intending aspirants that stepped down for him.
Pastor Ize-Iyamu, a former Secretary to the government of Edo state who also lauded the decision of the APC National Working Committee (NWC) to adopt a direct primary model for the party’s primaries in Edo state, stressed that it is a most welcomed development that will help strengthen party democracy and the democratic process .
He maintained that those opposed to direct primaries are doing so because they want to manipulate the process, averring that direct primary model is the best method under the current pandemic.
He maintained that he is not a beneficiary of the rift between Governor Godwin Obaseki and the National Chairman of the APC, comrade Adams Oshiomhole, explaining how he made several attempts to step into the crisis but the governor opposed all peace moves.
The New Diplomat’s checks indicate that frontline contenders like Chief Pius Odubu, Engr Chris Ogiemwonyi , Major-General Charles Airhiavbere and others have already stepped down for Ize-Iyamu as a consensus candidate among the community of loyal aspirants to comrade Adams Oshiomhole, national chiarman of the ruling APC.
The idea it was gathered is to help strengthen the APC ahead of the governorship elections.
