Osagie Ize-Iyamu withdraws from Edo gubernatorial race

Ahead of Saturday’s governorship primary of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Edo State, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, one of the front-line aspirants has withdrawn from the race.

Ize-Iyamu’s letter of withdrawal dated February 16, 2024, was addressed to the National Chairman of the party, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and copied the Edo State Acting chairman of the party, Jarrett Tenebe. Ize-Iyamu, who described his decision to withdraw from the contest as painful, noted that the decision was taken after exhaustive consultations with family, friends, political associates and supporters.

He opined that he made the sacrifice to withdraw in the interest of peace and unity that the party 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.

According to him, a few months ago, after extensively interacting with family, friends, political associates, and supporters, I joined the 2024 Edo State gubernatorial race as a result of my 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 said.

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.