Edo Guber: Ize-Iyamu Reveals How He Emerged APC Consensus Candidate, Denies Oshiomhole's Role  

The All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship aspirant in Edo State, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu on Wednesday disclosed that it took many months of discussions among seven aspirants before he was unanimously endorsed by others as the party's consensus candidate.

AllNews had reported that Ize-Iyamu last Tuesday night was declared the consensus candidate of the party by a screening committee shortly after he secured the party’s National Working Committee, NWC, waiver to contest the party primary slated for June 22, 2020.

Addressing newsmen after obtaining the nomination form at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja, he confirmed that six other aspirants have thrown their weight behind his ambition, stressing that he was in the race to develop the state and take it to the next level.

Aspirants who endorsed Ize-Iyamu include a former deputy governor, Pius Odubu and former People’s Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate, Gen. Charles Arhievare,. Others are: Engr. Chris Ogenwonyi, Hon. E. J. Agbonayinma and Hon. Saturday Iuwuilekhue.

Tracing his emergence as a consensus candidate, Ize-Iyamu said, “the process has been on for quite a while some even thought it could not work but because of the caliber of those involved, it has worked and some days ago we had our last meeting and the remaining seven of us we resolved that before picking the form we should agree on one person and support the person not just with our mouths but with our pockets and so we decided to put money together to support whoever we chose.

“I am happy to announce that at the end of the day I was chosen amongst this formidable group some of them are here but one or two have to leave because they have other engagements.”

On his touted endorsement by the National Chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, the aspirant debunked the insinuation, stressing that the APC National Chairman is a father of all and doubts if he would want to endorse anybody until after the primary.

“The National Chairman cannot endorse me by the virtue of his office. He can not take the risk of taking sides in matters like that. So the National Chairman is clearly out of it. By the grace of God by the time we are candidate we can enjoy the full support of the party leadership," he said.

On him enjoying the support of the party’s National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the governorship hopeful said, “I have not seen him for a long time, if you are telling me that he is supporting me I will appreciate the information and of course too for the President.”