Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu has emerged as the gubernatorial candidate of Oshiomhole-led faction of All Progressive Congress (APC) for the forthcoming election in Edo state.
The re-election bid of Godwin Obaseki as Edo State governor may have hit the rock with this announcement.
Ize-Iyamu, a former Secretary to Edo State Government (SSG), was announced as the candidate of the party on Tuesday night, May 26, in Abuja through a consensus arrangement.
A committee was set up to help the faction agree on a common front. The agreed candidate is now set to obtain the nomination form of the party ahead of the primaries.
Ize-Iyamu is expected to slug it out at the primaries on June 22 with the incumbent governor Godwin Obaseki who has been at loggerheads with his predecessor, Adams Oshiomhole, over the past months, a matter that has generated series of political crisis within the ruling APC.
The new candidate was presented by chairman of the screening committee, Senator Francis Alimikhena, the representative of Edo North Senatorial District.
Other members of the screening committee were a former Edo Deputy Governor Lucky Imasuen; Gen. Cecil Esekhaigbe; ex-Edo Speaker Thomas Okosun; former Minority Whip of the House of Representatives Samson Osagie; ex-member of the House of Representatives Patrick Obahiagbon and Deputy Leader of the House of Representatives, Peter Akpatason.
However, Governor Godwin Obaseki has expressed confidence that his re-election is sure.
In an interview on Channels TV, Obaseki said he is confident of returning to power as the first man of the state because ‘power comes from God.’
The governor noted that he is a man of peace, not a violent person, therefore he is certain that he will return to power by the help of God.
He said;
God gave me power. If he wants me to return I will continue. No man can stop me. Power comes from God.
