Ize-Iyamu pledges not to contest Edo election result

Etim Ekpimah

The candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, in the just concluded governorship election in Edo State has assured that he would not contest his defeat in court notwithstanding the outcome.

A statement signed by Ize-Iyamu on Monday, noted that the decision not to contest the outcome was borne out of the desire not to further heat the political tension in the state.

According to him, the election was neither free nor fair contrary to reports, alleging that there were several episodes of violence, voter intimidation and falsification of results.

“There were unlawful cancellations of results particularly from Urhonigbe South and North in Orhiomwon while results were falsified from many polling units in Ofunama in Ovia South West, and in parts of Ovia North East, Owan West, Oredo, Egor, Ikpoba-Okha, Esan North East, Esan West, Esan South East, and Uhunmwode Local Government Areas,” he said.

Ize-Iyamu accused security agents of collusion, saying they refused to intervene when “gun-wielding thugs took over collation centres in many locations.”

The former Edo Secretary to the State Government (SSG) also said” “There were also several cases of malfunctioning card readers, which disenfranchised duly registered voters in addition to many cases of unregistered voters voting with pre-purchased voters’ cards not collected by their actual owners.”

These malpractices, according to him, could easily form the basis to challenge the election results.

He, however, said: “We have decided not to commence an election petition. This is to avoid further tension in the state.

“We are also mindful that the leadership of our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and many well-placed individuals have made pronouncements endorsing the process, which we have chosen to respect.”

Ize-Iyamu stated that he would continue to pursue two pre-election cases challenging Governor Godwin Obaseki’s eligibility to contest the poll just “as the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its flagbearers have continued to pursue several pre-election suits in various courts against us, all totalling 13.

“Consequently, we have decided to continue with our pre-election cases in full exercise of our legal rights, just as our opponents have considered it their prerogative to also continue with their pre-election cases against us.”