*APC Screening Committee’s preferred candidate, Pastor Osagie-Ize Iyamu
Having screened out its main target, Gov. Godwin Obaseki in the forthcoming governorship elections in Edo State, the Screening Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) party has cleared Pastor Osagie-Ize Iyamu to participate in the party’s primary election in Edo State scheduled for the 22nd of June.
Obaseki, the incumbent Governor was disqualified over alleged discrepancies in his academic credentials. Governor Godwin Obaseki, the committee was deemed ineligible over multiple inconsistencies in his presented academic certificates, including a Higher School Leaving Certificate the Governor claimed to have obtained from an Institute of Continuing Education in Benin City, Edo State.
Furthermore, his NYSC certificate indicated the name ‘Obasek’, and while the Committee acknowledged that this could be an error on the part of the issuing body, it flagged the Governor’s failure to address the problem for years and thus solidified doubts on its authenticity. Governor Godwin Obaseki also failed to supply additional documents solicited as proof of its claims.
On these grounds, the committee, relying on the party constitution, ruled Governor Godwin Obaseki ineligible for participation in the party primary. Engineer Chris Ogiemwonyi was also ruled ineligible over inconsistencies in the name contained in his submitted academic certificates.
Another disqualified aspirant was Mr. Matthew Iduoriyekemwen. Dr. Pius Odubu and Mr. Osaro Obaze however passed the screening and joined Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu as the aspirants ruled eligible by the Screening Committee of the party to participate in the primary election.
