The All Progressives Congress in Edo State has suspended the formal flag-off of its Governorship campaign indefinitely, following alleged refusal by 14 out of 18 Governors elected on the platform of the party (names withheld) to endorse a future that is shrouded in a dense fog of uncertainty as the Candidate of the party in the September 19, Governorship election in Edo State, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu continue to struggle through a significant logjam in his most ambitious and dangerous political endeavour.
Investigation revealed that the Governors decision to distance themselves from the Pastor Ize-Iyamu Campaign borders on the the alleged failure to carryout the directive of Yobe Governor, Mai-Mala Buni and Chairman of APC Caretaker/extra-ordinary Convention Committee directive to the warring factions of the party in Edo State to fuse their party structure into the leadership of Bar. Anselm Ojezua as part of peace deal after the APC National Executive Council (NEC) sacked the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party led by its former Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole on June 25, 2020 after the crisis rocking the party attained its apex level ahead of the 2023 General election.
Speaking at a zoom meeting with sub-Coordinators of his Campaign recently, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, described attempt by the APC Governors to abandon him mid-way as distasteful and unfortunate.
A personal aide to Pastor Ize-Iyamu, hinted our Correspondent that his Principal almost broke down in tears while lamenting that he “is becoming home and dry as a result of the development.
“I am fully aware that about 14 APC Governors are not for us. The most worrisome aspect of it is that, they are neither hiding nor apologetic about why they are not supporting him”.
According to the aide, the little that he (Ize-Iyamu) has achieved so far, is as a result of his one personal and the support of a popular Benin business Mongol and Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.
The source also quoted the Edo APC Governorship Candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, also blamed his travails on the national leader of APC, Mr Ahmed Bola Tinubu and Comrade Adams Oshiomhole over their unwillingness to reconcile with their formal allies including most of the APC northern Governors to have a change of heart and pave the way for the opposition party to full the gauntlet APC campaign as destructive trajectory created by preference of the 14 APC for the Candidate of the Peoples Democratic party in Edo State, Governor Godwin Obaseki, becomes glaring.
But Ize-Iyamu, according to the source, was however encouraged at the meeting not to concede defeat, despite the daunting challenges ahead of him including his inability to agree on a particular venue for the formal flag-off of his campaign.
