By Osahon Osahon
A former governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Edo State, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, is being alleged to have concluded plans to dump his former party for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo.
Ize-Iyamu’s alleged defection has been greeted by mixed reactions from chieftains of the two leading political parties in the state.
It was gathered that the purported defection has led to fear in the camp of Governor Godwin Obaseki who is embroiled in crisis with APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole and former governor of the state.
The two-time PDP governorship candidate ran against the now national chairman of the APC and former Adams Oshiomhole in 2012. He also lost to the incumbent Governor Godwin Obaseki in 2016.
NIGER DELTA TODAY learnt that Pastor Ize-Iyamu is expected to join the APC before this week Saturday.
The Redeemed Church of God pastor, according to sources, will be led into the party by APC National Chairman, Oshiomhole.
Sources in the state chapter of the PDP who did not want to be name in print, disclosed that Ize-Iyamu had remained a passive member of the party, ever since he fell out with the chairman of the PDP in the state, Chief Dan Orbih.
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Ize-Iyamu who served as Secretary to the Edo State Government during the administration of former Governor Lucky Igbinedion, joined others to form the Grace Group, which metamorphosed into the defunct Action Congress.
He later left the ACN in 2015 after it dawned on him that Oshiomhole was not ready to support his governorship ambition.
Already, supporters of Pastor Ize-Iyamu have taken to the social media to celebrate his planned exit from the PDP and entrance into the APC with the hashtag #POIiscoming.
Sources close to Pastor Ize-Iyamu said he could join the APC to secure the party’s governorship ticket with the support of the Edo Peoples Movement, a pressure group whose aim is to unseat Governor Godwin Obaseki.
Other persons seeking EPM support for APC ticket are General Charles Airhiavbere, Engr. Chris Ogiemwonyi and Solomon Edebiri.
Some Edo PDP members, who celebrated planned move of Pastor Ize-Iyamu to the APC, said the party’s plan for next year’s governorship poll does not favour him.
In an earlier interview, Pastor Ize-Iyamu said: “If you ask me my political direction I leave it in the hands of God because I’m not in any way desperate for power.
“Everything I do I try to let God direct me. In my political life also I have made it a point of duty to put the people first.”
When contacted on Monday, Ize-Iyamu said he would keep our reporter informed if he makes the decision to defect.
Meanwhile, it was gathered that some EPM members are not happy with the plan to support Ize-Iyamu for the APC ticket.
But the conveners of EPM, Barr. Henry Idahagbon, dismissed talks that Pastor Ize-Iyamu has caused a crack within the ranks of the group.
Idahagbon said they would welcome the Ize-Iyamu with fanfare because he is an encyclopedia of Edo politics.
