Edo 2024: I’ll Support Any Candidate Who Emerges in The Primary As A Loyal Party Man – Ize-Iyamu
By Reporter
As earlier reported by the Midwest Herald Community Newspaper, today February 16, 2024, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu has formerly withdrew from the Edo State Governorship race at a press conference in Benin City.
His letter of withdrawal dated February 16, 2024, was addressed to the National Chairman of the party, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and also coped to the Edo State Acting chairman of the party, Emperor Jarrett Tenebe.
Ize-Iyamu, described his decision to withdraw from the contest as painful, but noted that he took the decision after exhaustive consultations with family, friends, political associates and supporters.
He added that he made the sacrifice to withdraw in the interest of peace and unity that the APC “desperately required at both state and national levels.”
The former candidate of the party in the 2020 Governorship election, said he joined the race as a result of his passion and commitment to the cause of rescuing Edo State from its current condition of decrepitude.
Ize-Iyamu explained that he joined the race few months ago, after extensively interacting with his family, friends, political associates, and supporters as a result of his passion and commitment to the cause of rescuing Edo from its current condition of decrepitude.
“Having been cleared to contest. I regretfully wish to announce my withdrawal from the race. Although painful, this decision has become imperative after an exhaustive consultation with my family, friends, political associates and supporters. I make this sacrifice in the interest of the peace and unity that the party desperately requires at both state and national levels”, he explained.
He added that he entered the contest as a progressive democrat, with an open mind to keenly contest and accept the result of a process that is fair, credible and transparent.
He, however, commended the efforts made by the National Working Committee, NWC, of the party for correcting the erroneous impression that was maliciously created by certain persons that some aspirants, including himself were disqualified from the gubernatorial contest by a controversial screening committee.
“The NWC constituted the authentic screening committee and all twelve aspirants who purchased and completed the nomination forms were successfully screened and subsequently issued Clearance certificates.
“This step was praiseworthy and helped in restoring our integrity in the eyes of the public”, he added. He, however, appealed to the people of the state and his supporters to accept his decision, which he noted was very personal and promised to be there for them at all times.
While thanking President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his fatherly role as well as the party’s National leadership for the fairness and commitment to the democratic process, he commended the state working committee for their principled stand to allow a level playing field for all aspirants. He promised to support any candidate who emerges in the primary as a loyal party man
Speaking at a press conference in Benin on Friday, Ize-Iyamu said the decision to withdraw from the governorship race was “painful”.
He added that his withdrawal from the race is in the interest of peace and unity of the party.
