Edo polls: Ize-Iyamu leads protests, says God asks him to recover mandate

The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the just-concluded governorship election in Edo State, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, yesterday joined other leaders of the party to lead a street protest against the outcome of the election.

The protest began from theIkpoba slope junction along Akpkakpava Street, through Second East Circular to New Lagos road and other major streets within Benin City metropolis.

The protesters wore black attires to mourn what they termed death of democracy.

Addressing the protesters, Pastor Ize-Iyamu said God has told him to, “pursue and recover”, his mandate, which he claimed he was robbed of by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Pastor Ize-Iyamu said he is committed to seeking justice over what he termed fake results declared by INEC.

Ize-Iyamu vowed to pursue the case from the tribunal through the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court if necessary.

He said it was lamentable that those who were given victory by INEC were ashamed of celebrating the victory.

He said: “Let me assure you that the robbery of the Edo peoples mandate will not stand. In the past few days, I have been seeking the face of God. I asked Him what do I do: do I leave them to their fate? Do I walk away? And God gave me a word. He said ‘pursue and recover’.

Also speaking, the state chairman of the party, Chief Dan Orbih, said the party would do everything to defend democracy.

Meanwhile, the governor-elect, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, while reacting, lampooned Ize-Iyamu for relying on results from the social media to brag about that the PDP won the election.

Obaseki said he and the APC would not succumb to blackmail, as they have moved on as part of the progressive continuity to deliver on the promises of good governance to the people.

Speaking through the media coordinator of his transition committee, Mr. John Mayaki, Obaseki said it was laughable for the PDP to parade themselves as winner of the election when Edo people gave their mandate to him.

“I am sure they want us to throw a lavish party in the manner of Chief Osawaru Igbinedion who would organize parties for the space of a whole month across the world. But the governor-elect is a responsible person.

“What the PDP is doing is to incite the people to create violence. But Edo people are peace loving and would not succumb to political skullduggery of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.

“We would not join issues with Ize-Iyamu and the PDP since they want to continue to dwell in the past. The campaign is over and the Governor-elect is focused. We are very confident that whichever avenue they want to seek redress, the APC and the Governor-elect wont succumb to blackmail.

“The PDP as a party relied on social media results, which they manipulated and published to delude themselves. But we are confident that the people cannot be blackmailed. The people have chosen the path of progressive continuity, good governance and won’t go back to the era of pestilence