Edo poll: APC overrules Ize-Iyamu, congratulates Obaseki

… says Sept. 19 election a new watershed

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has joined President Muhammadu Buhari in congratulating re-elected Edo Gov. Godwin Obaseki and urged the party’s candidate, Osagie Ize-lyamu and members to felicitate with the winner.

The party said: “Ask if progressives and democrats, we are confident that all leaders and members of the party will celebrate the outcome of the election as free and fair as acknowledge by our leader, President Muhammadu Buhari.

“Let us unite to move our democracy for forward. We must put an end to the era when the electoral contests become warfare.

“We urge our candidate and all our members to join us in congratulating Mr Godwin Obaseki and the PDP, being the declared winner of the election. Our attention must now shift to Ondo State and ensure that we win the October 10, 2020 election.

“September 19, 2020, Edo election should present a new watershed. We will work hard to win the Ondo election. Having reaffirmed our commitment to free and fair elections, it is our expectation that all opposition parties in the country will also commit themselves to free and fair contests.”

The Chairman, Caretaker/Extraordinary National Convention Planning Committee of the party and Yobe  Governor, Mai Mala Buni said in a statement in Damaturu that September 19 election was a victory for democracy.

The statement was entitled, “State Governorship Election: Victory for Democracy’’.

Persecondnews had reported that Obaseki polled 307, 955 votes to beat Ize-Iyamu who garnered 223, 619 votes.

Buhari had congratulated Obaseki on Sunday, lauding the political process which he adjudged as free and fair.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan had congratulated Adams Oshiomhole on his re-election against PDP candidate to douse tension and political crisis in Edo in 2014.

It said: “We hereby congratulate the winner of the election, the people of Edo State and all Nigerians. The peaceful conduct of the election and its outcome represent a victory for Nigeria’s democracy

“As a party, we join our leader, President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, to affirm our ‘commitment to free and fair elections’ in order to strengthen ‘the foundation for our political and moral authority.

“We commend INEC, our security agencies, and all political parties that contested the election for the successful conduct of the election. As a governing party, we will take every step necessary to support the Federal Government to consolidate all the gains achieved.

“We, in particular, want to salute our candidate in the election, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamuh for his tenacity and leadership. We similarly commend our Edo State leaders, especially our immediate past National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, and all our members in Edo State for demonstrating unwavering support for our party and our candidate in the election.

“In the face of all the challenges, we collectively remained faithful and worked tirelessly during the campaigns. We appeal to all our members to be strengthened by the outcome of the election and unite in order to correct all the problems that worked against our party and our candidate in the just concluded election.

“Finally, we specially hereby celebrate our Edo State 2020 Governorship Campaign Council led by His Excellency Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Governor of Kano State. We acknowledge and appreciate the contributions of all members of the Campaign Council.”

APC insisted: “We will therefore accordingly expect a congratulatory message from all parties just as we similarly guarantee that once we are defeated in a fair contest, we will congratulate the winner.

“May God continue to bless our democracy, our nation, and our people!”