…Ize-Iyamu rejects imposition of candidate

…Onolememem insists on zoning

There is palpable panic and tension in the camp of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State as former National Chairman of the Party and Senator representing Edo North Senatorial District, Comr. Adams Oshiomhole has allegedly initiated talks with business tycoon and banker, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede from his Edo North Senatorial District, in a bid to hand him the party’s ticket ahead of the forthcoming governorship election in the State.

Sources within the APC said the strategic move is to find a candidate capable of matching the impressive corporate profile of frontline governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former Chairman of Sterling Bank Plc, Dr. Asue Ighodalo.

“Following the development, a sense of unease has swept through the APC ranks, with old party members and other stakeholders rejecting the move in its entirety,” a source within the APC, who pleaded anonymity said.

Former governorship candidate of the APC and a leader of the party in the State, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, condemned the move, describing it as an imposition which will be resisted by the party.

According to the source, “I can confirm to you that Ize Iyamu is vehemently resisting the new development. He is insisting that APC is a party that firmly believes in democratic process and that the will of the people prevails.

“Ize-Iyamu is of the opinion that the attempt by a leader in the State to bring in Aig-Imoukhoude, a Lagos-based business mogul and entrepreneur as a candidate of the party for the 2024 governorship election is nothing short of an imposition, and it goes against the principles of a fair and open democratic system. Such a move will be totally rejected as it undermines the very essence of internal party democracy.”

Another source familiar with the development in the camp of Mike Oziegbe Onolememen, a former Minister of Works and chieftain of the APC, said his principal believes the move goes against the spirit of equity and fairness.

He adds: “For Onolememen, the party must, in the spirit of equity and fairness, insist on zoning. It is the turn of the people of Edo Central to become governor and not Edo North where Edo North where Aig-Imoukhuede hails from.”

“While we believe Aig-Imouhuede is well qualified to contest for the governorship seat, we also know that it is the turn of the people of Edo Central, not Edo North where he comes from, hence the zoning agreement must be respected. The idea of one man unilaterally selecting a candidate runs counter to the principles of fairness and undermines the democratic ethos we aim to uphold within the party,” the source emphasized.