Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the 2020 Edo governorship election, has officially obtained expression of interest and nomination forms, signaling his intention to vie for the party’s ticket in the upcoming September 21 gubernatorial polls in the state.
In response to the Sen. Adams Oshiomhole-backed committee’s decision to narrow down the number of APC governorship aspirants from 29 to six, Ize-Iyamu asserted that divine anointment, not man, determines leadership. Oshiomhole, the APC leader in Edo State, formed a committee chaired by Professor Julius Ihonvbere to streamline the aspirant pool, resulting in the selection of two contenders from each of the three senatorial districts in the state.
Addressing the media at the APC national secretariat in Abuja, a group led by Hon. Emmanuel Momoh criticized the committee’s actions, deeming it contrary to the APC Constitution. Momoh emphasized that anointment is solely the prerogative of God, not individual voters. He stated, “If you look at the calendar of APC, so the issue of somebody being anointed does not hold water, and we want to let you know that he is going ahead with the race.”
Another aspirant, Gen. Charles Airhiavbere, excluded from the selected contenders, has also procured APC forms, expressing his determination to contest based on his credentials, regardless of any perceived anointment.
Many unselected aspirants, disregarding the Ihonvbere panel’s decision, are poised to enter the race for the coveted APC ticket in the Edo gubernatorial polls.
Meanwhile, former APC chairman in Edo and gubernatorial aspirant, Imuse, stressed the urgent need to rescue and reset the state. Imuse, an anointed aspirant, outlined his commitment to transitioning from politics of self-interest to result-oriented governance, aiming to address the challenges faced by Edo State. He affirmed, “Edo is bleeding, Edo is in a coma in a state of severe hemorrhage, the state needed to be rescued, we need to reset Edo state.” Imuse’s purchase of the APC forms reflects his dedication to rescuing the state from what he describes as political predators and vampires currently in power.
