*APC flag-bearer in Edo forthcoming elections who will square up against the incumbent Godwin Obaseki
Developments in Edo State appears to be working as planned, following the screening out of Governor Godwin Obaseki by the All progressive Congress (APC) party ahead of the elections. Obaseki had left the APC and joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with his deputy.
When he left, the entire political structure of the party joined him including all the members of the state House of Assembly, all the local government Chairmen and everybody that is of value in the state. Political pundits alleged that Obaseki’s ouster from the party was to clear the way in the APC for Osagie Ize-Iyamu, which many believed is the preferred candidate of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, the sacked National Chairman of the APC.
Expectedly therefore, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, one of the governorship aspirants on the APC party on Monday emerged winner of the party’s direct primary. The Chairman of the APC Primary Election Committee and Imo State governor, Hope Uzodinma, announced the result in Benin, the state capital earlier on Monday.
He said Ize-Iyamu polled 27,838 votes, while his closest rival, Dr Pius Odubu, polled 3,776. Another contestant, Osaro Obaze, polled 2,751 votes. Uzodinma further said that the election was a formality in accordance with the guidelines of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the other aspirants had already stepped down before the exercise.
