Oshiomhole’s ex-aide, Ize-Iyamu, emerges PDP candidate for Edo governorship poll

Three of the PDP Edo governorship aspirants, L-R: Iduoriyekemwen, Edebiri and Ize-Iyamu at a programme in Benin City.:

The Peoples Democratic Party in Edo State has nominated Osagie Ize-Iyamu as its flag-bearer in the September 10 governorship election in the state. Mr. Ize-Iyamu, a lawyer and pastor, defeated two other challengers – Solomon Edebiri; and Mathew Iduoriyekemwen. In the result of the primaries announced by Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi, Chairman of the committee that conducted the exercise, Mr. Ize-Iyamu, a former Chief of Staff and Secretary to the Edo State Government, polled 584 votes to defeat two other aspirants. His closest opponent, Mathew Uduoeyekemwen, according to Mr. Umahi, scored 91 votes while Solomon Edebiri polled 38 votes. He was South-South leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) before defecting to the PDP in 2014. Mr. Umahi said 713 delegates were accredited for the primaries from a total delegates’ list of 751, adding that there were no invalid votes. Presenting Mr. Ize-Iyamu to the party members, primaries committee chairman thanked all PDP governors and members for their support which led to the success of the exercise. In his acceptance speech, Mr. Ize-Iyamu commended the national leadership of the party and the electoral committee for transparency and fairness in the process. He said the fight to reclaim Edo State would continue until the party produced the governor in the September election. Before the collation of results, the three aspirants said they were satisfied with the process, describing it as transparent, free and fair. Until he fell out with Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Mr. Ize-Iyamu, 53, was a member of the All Progressives Congress and an influential official of the state government. He was National Vice Chairman, South-South, of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and led Governor Oshiomhole’s campaign for second term about four years ago. After he left the APC, he joined the PDP and became Coordinator of the Goodluck/Sambo Campaign Organisation for the 2015 presidential election. The All Progressives Congress had on Sunday nominated Godwin Obaseki, head of the Edo State Economic Team, as its governorship candidate.