- His withdrawal from the gubernatorial race was announced in a letter dated February 16, 2024.
Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu has pulled out of All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship primary in Edo State.
Ize-Iyamu is one of the leading aspirants for the primary election slated for Saturday.
His withdrawal from the gubernatorial race was announced in a letter dated February 16, 2024.
The letter 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 disclosed that his decision to shelve his gubernatorial ambition followed exhaustive consultations with family, friends, political associates and supporters.
Describing the decision as painful, he opined that he made the sacrifice to withdraw for the sake 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.
“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