• Pick gov nomination forms

Iyobosa Uwugiaren, Chuks Okocha and Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

The battle line for the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming election in Edo State was drawn yesterday as the two main contenders from the ruling party’s factions, the incumbent, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, and Mr. Osagie Ize-Iyamu, obtained nomination forms to run.

While a group, Obaseki Mandate Forum in Federal Capital Territory (FCT), purchased the nomination form for Obaseki ahead of the June 22 primary election, Ize-Iyamu, a former Secretary to Edo State Government, picked his at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja.

APC in Edo State has been enmeshed in a crisis since last year, which has defied all efforts of the party leaders and other well-wishers to resolve.

The crisis has resulted in the factionalisation of the ruling party in the state, with one faction pitching tent with the APC National Chairman, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, and the other backing Obaseki.

However, amid controversy over the directive of APC National Working Committee (NWC) that direct primary would be used to decide the party’s standard bearer in the election, Ize-Iyamu, who had earlier been endorsed as the consensus candidate by Oshiomhole’s faction of the party, obtained his nomination form with an assurance that the election would not be lost to the opposition.

However, the governor, whose faction opposed the direct primary directive of the party, has vowed that no man could deny him a second term in office, adding that “power comes from God.”

Ize-Iyamu was accompanied to the national secretariat of the party in Abuja by other aspirants from Oshiomhole’s faction, including: Prof. Ebegue Amadasun, Gen. Charles Airhiavbere (rtd), Mr. Chris Ogiemwonyi, Hon. Ehiozuwa Agbonayinma and Hon. Saturday Uwuilekhue and others.

At the event, the national body of the party warned that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is waiting for APC’s implosion ahead of the June 22 governorship primary in Edo State, but assured party members of a free, fair and credible primary.

Addressing journalists after picking his form, Ize-Iyamu said the other seven aspirants had stepped down for him, while Edo State members at the National Assembly were backing his aspiration.

He explained that the other aspirants stepped down for him because the party does not want a rancorous primary or anything that would give the opposition the opportunity to take over the state.

Ize-Iyamu said though there were issues in the state, the leaders of the party were resolute that the state would not be lost to the opposition.

“Every one of us here may have personal ambitions, but we are bound together by the common desire to fast-track the transformation of our state through transparent, effective and accountable governance that will improve the living standards and social well-being of our people.

“And we all recognise that this cannot happen unless we dislodge the present administration that has failed this great party and the people of Edo State,” he stated.

Ize-Iyamu said he was reluctant to criticise Obaseki, but added that even though APC is the ruling party in the state, majority of its members are not happy with the pace of development, rancour and the level of insecurity in the state.

Asked if Oshiomhole had endorsed him, he noted that while he would have loved the national chairman to endorse him, he (Oshiomhole) could not do that now in order not to compromise his integrity as the father of all the aspirants.

On the mode of the primary that is generating controversy, Ize-Iyamu said he had no problem with the method to be adopted by the national body of the party in picking its governorship candidate.

He said he would abide by the party’s rules as set by NWC, ‘’the organ that is empowered to fashion out guidelines’’ for the conduct of the primary.

“If they want us to do indirect primary, so be it; if they want us to do direct, so be it. But if you want to use the COVID-19 situation what should be recommended really is direct primary, because the process decentralises the system. Meanwhile, indirect will congregate thousands of people in one place for voting.

“But the governor is insisting on indirect primary because it is easier to buy delegates. Those who are afraid of the direct primary are those who are afraid of free, fair and credible election,” he stated.

Earlier, the National Organising Secretary of the party, Mr. Emma Ibediro, had said APC’s major opponent, PDP, was praying for an implosion in the party, adding that the opposition party “will wait forever and wait for nothing.’’

He said: “With the way we are going to conduct our primary, it will leave no one in doubt that APC is more united more than ever. Naturally, the social media has been awash with a lot of comments, but I want to assure you that contrary to what people may think, I am very optimistic that the forthcoming primary will prove APC as a party that will be fair to all.

“The processes that will lead to the primary will be so transparent that whoever wins will know that he has won and whoever loses, it will be obvious that he/she has lost. I urge all of you to see this contest as a game,” he stated.

Ogiemwonyi, who stepped down for Ize-Iyamu, said he shared the same commitment and vision for accelerated development of Edo State, anchored on purposeful and effective leadership with Ize-Iyamu leveraging on the abundant human and natural resources in the state.

No Man Can Stop My Re-election, Says Obaseki

Obaseki, however, expressed confidence yesterday that he would get a second term in office, adding that no man could stop him from returning as governor.

Obaseki, while featuring yesterday on Channels Television‘s Sunrise Daily, said: “I am not a violent person. But I am confident that the way I got into power is the same way I will return.

“God gave me power. If he wants me to return I will continue. No man can stop me. Power comes from God.”
Obaseki also denied claims that his ambition to return as governor would be hindered by inadequate “resources.”
“I have friends with resources. I worked for eight years behind the scene before I became governor.

“So, all that insinuations about using somebody’s resources…I became governor on the platform of the party and I am grateful for it.

“It does not matter whether it is direct or indirect (primary), I will win,” he stated.
He appealed for peace in the state, and cautioned against bloodshed over the election.

“We have always canvassed for peace. What are the issues in Edo and what are the issues that cannot be resolved in a democracy? Our concern is to use the resources of the people to develop the state.

“This shouldn’t lead to bloodshed. We will not accept to be cowed and intimidated because some people think that they can manipulate rules and cut corners,” he said.

Reacting to Ize-Iyamu’s emergence as the consensus candidate of the Oshiomhole faction, the spokesman of the governor, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, said in a statement yesterday that the governorship candidate of the party would not emerge from Abuja.

According to him, the state chapter of the party, which is responsible for superintending over the emergence of a candidate of APC, resides and operates in Edo State and not Abuja.

“It is, therefore, hilarious to hear that a so-called consensus candidate for the party in Edo State governorship election was selected in Abuja. It is not surprising that the charade was hatched and actuated by Oshiomhole and members of his Edo Peoples Movement (EPM), a proscribed dissident group in the state. For us, this is a joke taken too far and clearly shows that Mr. Adams Oshiomhole once again has set APC on a journey to perdition in Edo State as he did in Zamfara, Bayelsa, Rivers, Taraba and several other states,” he said.

He said under Oshiomhole, APC did not lose elections due to unpopularity but as a result of the lawless conduct allegedly choreographed by the national chairman.

“The last time we checked, the timetable released by Oshiomhole’s National Working Committee (NWC) fixed Edo Primary election for June 22, 2020, and it is expected to hold in Edo State, but we now hear that they have conducted the primary election three weeks before the set date in a jurisdiction far away from Edo State, making a mockery of our great party, APC, President Muhammadu Buhari, the presidency and all other institutions and esteemed individuals associated with our party.

“Our conclusion on this matter is that like all other illegal actions taken by Oshiomhole, this too is a nullity and shall come to no-effect,” he added.

Group Purchases Nomination Form for Obaseki

A group, Obaseki Mandate Forum in Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has purchased the governorship nomination form for Obaseki.

Addressing journalists after purchasing the form at the national secretariat of the party yesterday in Abuja, the Chairman of the forum, Chief Nathaniel Momoh, said the action was a demonstration of the support and acceptability of majority of Edo State people towards the re-election of Obaseki.

He added that the form was a sign that the will of the people would prevail by ensuring that plots for the imposition of any candidate did not materialise.

Momoh noted that by this purchase, the people have spoken with one voice and have decided to entrust their mandate into the hands of Obaseki to enable him to consolidate his achievements.

He stated: “If almost all previous governors of the state have enjoyed a second term, some of them, despite their not too impressive performance in office, it will be a travesty of justice, a mockery of equity and fairness to deny a man whose tenure has touched every community in the state.

“The choice of Obaseki is not just an APC project as I have just mentioned. It is also the project of the market woman in Uselu market, the trader in Aviele, Council of Chiefs in Ososo, the 18-year-old and above student in Owan, the fruit trader in Iruekpen, that meat seller in Agenebode, that palm wine tapper in Esan, the cassava farmer in Ikpeshi, and many others.

“This is not a project for a gang of elite, who seek to whet their appetite with political power, relevance and undue control of the resources of the state, but one for the masses and well-meaning individuals passionate about the progress and development of the state.”

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Ize-Iyamu: Indirect Primary Will Fuel COVID-19 in Edo

• Party’s 18 LG chairmen oppose direct primary option

Eromosele Abiodun and Nume Ekeghe

The main challenger to Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, for the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming election in the state, Mr. Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has cautioned against the adoption of indirect primary in the June 22 primary election of the party in the state.

Ize-Iyamu, who belongs to a faction of the party loyal to the APC National Chairman, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, said yesterday that indirect primary would fuel the spread of COVID-19 in the state.

APC National Working Committee (NWC) had chosen direct primary as the method to be adopted for deciding the party’s governorship candidate in the state, a move that has degenerated into a controversy in the state, especially with an objection from the Obaseki camp.

Yesterday, chairmen of the party in the 18 local government areas of the state, who belong to the governor’s faction of APC, rejected the endorsement of Ize-Iyamu as the consensus candidate of Oshiomhole’s faction of the party and pushed for indirect primary to select the party’s governorship candidate.

Ize-Iyamu, while featuring on the Morning Show, a programme on ARISE NEWS Channel, the broadcast arm of THISDAY Newspapers, also described opposition to Obaseki’s second-term bid as self-inflicted.

He accused the governor of alienating APC leaders after he was elected governor.

According to him, Obaseki would be “miserably defeated” if he defects to the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He said: “The indirect option also means he (the governor) would mobilise members from every ward to Benin City, which is more dangerous and it appears they don’t know the implications of an indirect primary.

“The party has the right to decide on what type of primaries we should have. It would be strange for a participant and an aspirant to dictate the rules. The reality is that it is the National Working Committee (NWC) that has the constitutional power and authority to organise primaries. And the primaries could either be direct or indirect.

“For me, whatever the national says, we would abide by it. Those that are with Governor Obaseki have tried to propose that because of the COVID-19 situation, the indirect primaries would be a preferred option to the direct primaries. And the direct primaries would mean that about 500,000 would converge on the state and that would be dangerous. But I think that they are misleading the public.

“APC members in Edo are not up to 500,000 and this primary is only for APC members. In fact, even the general election in Edo State, nobody has won the governorship election with 400,000 votes. So, when you suggest you can get over 500,000 people, you are just being mischievous.”

He said Obaseki’s decision to alienate himself from the party leadership the moment he got into office was the root of his problem, adding that the governor is only dragging Oshiomhole into the crisis because he has chosen to be neutral and not support any candidate.

Ize-Iyamu also accused Obaseki of using the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) to blackmail Oshiomhole to hand him the party’s ticket on a platter.

He said: “By using the Governors’ Forum and other groups, he has tried to blackmail the national chairman and the leadership of the party to hand over to him the ticket which has never been done. Even his colleagues who are doing the second term would tell you they went through the primary process. So, basically, the problem is self-created. And everything he has been doing since is geared towards that direction.

“Recently, I heard he constituted a judicial commission of inquiry to look into the state hospital. Funny enough, why wait to just some days to a primary election before that is happening and you are talking about something you have been part of as a member of the state executive council when Oshiomhole was governor of the state.

“The project you are talking of was discussed when you were a member of the executive. And based on the finding we have, even the 75 per cent upfront payment, which the commission is quarrelling with, you were the one who suggested it in the Exco meeting to ensure that there was no inflation based on foreign exchange escalation.

“And throughout this period, you have been governor, I am aware that you have approved projects and upfront projects that is above 60 per cent, which means if you want to use the procurement law that states it should not be above 25 per cent as you have said, you have also breached the law. And yet just because you must deal with those who are not ready to support you, you have pretended to set up a commission of inquiry that can even indict you in your past and present.”

He cautioned Obaseki against defecting to PDP if he loses the APC primary, noting that he would suffer a miserable defeat if that happens.

“If Governor Obaseki loses and he decides to go to PDP or any party, it is his right and he can do so. But I want to say that as of today, APC is very well accepted in Edo State.

“The leaders are people who are very well grounded in their localities and if he goes outside APC, I think he would suffer a very miserable defeat,” he stated.

LGA Chairmen Reject Ize-Iyamu’s Consensus Candidacy

APC chairmen in the 18 local government areas of Edo State yesterday faulted the endorsement of Ize-Iyamu as the consensus candidate of the Oshiomhole faction of the party in the forthcoming governorship election in the state.
The chairmen, in a statement yesterday, also rejected APC NWC’s decision to adopt direct primary to pick the party’s candidate and advocated indirect primary as a replacement.

They restated their position that Ize-Iyamu is not a member of the party in the state, as he had left APC in 2014 to contest the governorship election on the platform of PDP in 2016, which he lost.

The statement was signed by Hon. Henry Ashofor (Akoko-Edo); Comrade Odion Olaye (Egor); Mr. Mike Anakaso (Esan Central); Hon. Ogbejiele Idogei (Esan North-east); Hon. Monday Osoh (Esan South-east); Mr. Ehikioya Onaburerkhalen (Esan West); Hon. Zakari Z. Ozizi (Etsako Central); Sir Sunday Adogah (Etsako East); Mrs. Ezolome Rabiat (Etsako West) and Hon. Sylvester Odia (Igueben).

Others are Kelvin O. Egharevba (Ikpoba-Okha); Hon. Godwill Alabi (Oredo); Benjamin Oghumu (Orhionmwon); Hon. Etinosa Ighodaro (Ovia North-East); Mr Peter Ajayi (Ovia South-west); Zuberu Kasim (Owan East); John Ojeikhoa (Owan West) and Mr. Justin Omoruyi (Uhunmwode).

They criticised the waiver granted Ize-Iyamu to vie for the APC’s governorship ticket, noting that not only has he not met the conditions for such a waiver, but whatever he procured was gotten from the wrong body, NWC, as it is the National Executive Committee (NEC) that is empowered by the party’s constitution to grant a waiver.

“The purported waiver granted to Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu by the National Working Committee of the party is ultra vires, null and void, as Article 31 of the party constitution confers that power on the National Executive Committee of the party. Besides, the conditions for waiver prescribed by the party’s constitution have not been met.
“The truth is that Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu recently joined Edo Peoples Movement (EPM), which is a group organised by Mr. Adams Oshiomhole to destabilise APC in Edo State.

“The party has a constitution and the constitution makes provision on how things are done, including registration of new members,” they said.

They urged President Muhammadu Buhari to call Oshiomhole to order, adding that “Article 21 of the constitution of our party tells us that factionalisation or creating parallel organs at any level within the party as Oshiomhole has done in Edo State is an offence against the party.”

They reaffirmed their support for Obaseki to continue in office for another term, adding: “We expect to actualise this support for the forthcoming primary on the 22nd of June 2020, using the indirect mode, in accordance with the resolution of the State Executive Committee duly passed on the 22nd of May 2020 as authorised by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party in August 2018.”

Osagie Ize-Iyamu

The choice of a consensus candidate for the governorship election holding this year in Edo has thrown a faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state loyal to the party’s National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole into disarray. A disagreement among the four major aspirants yesterday deadlocked the supposed ‘political family meeting’.The contenders, who have from the onset been united in denying Governor Godwin Obaseki a second term in office, are currently at crossroads, disagreeing over whom the cap fits.

The meeting, which held at the home of a former deputy governor and a frontline member of Edo People’s Movement (EMP), Lucky Imasuen, was convened to nominate one from the quartet.

The aspirants include immediate past Deputy Governor Pius Odubu, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Chris Ogiemwonyi and Maj.-Gen. Charles Airhiavbere (rtd). They had forged a common front to confront the incumbent in the election proper, with each promising to queue behind whoever wins the ticket.

It was, however, gathered that thugs allegedly sponsored by one of the hopefuls, invaded the venue, sacking the ‘family meeting’ and dispersing those in attendance.

Another known member of the movement and a staunch supporter of one of the contestants, Henry Idahagbon, nevertheless denied the alleged invasion, while some other attendees claimed “heavy financial inducement” by two of the aspirants.

It was further learnt that Ize-Iyamu loyalists had, in the last 24 hours, fine-tuned plans to secure the endorsement of EPM leaders, a development that was allegedly frowned on by others.

The group’s co-convener, Idahagbon, while fielding questions from The Guardian, said the meeting deadlocked for “lack of transparency” by the organisers.

His words: “In their attempt to choose a consensus candidate, the meeting ended in a deadlock because the process was not transparent.“We have only asked that the leadership should go back to the drawing board to make it transparent.”

Insisting that no sponsored hoodlums disrupted proceedings, Idahagbon added: “All the four aspirants came together and addressed the leadership about their concerns. Thereafter, they left.

“The leadership adjourned the sitting and they reconvened at 1:00pm at another location. “There were no thugs, no intimidation. The meeting ended with fun, backslapping and laughter. We are all friends. There is no rancour whatsoever.”