Edo Guber: PDP Bound To Win As KOWA Backs Ize-Iyamu
Mr Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Edo State PDP governorship Candidate[/caption]
Mr Thompson Osadolor, the Edo state governorship candidate of KOWA party has stepped down to support Mr Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the governorship candidate of the People Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.
The decision to step down and support the PDP candidate follows lack of financial strength by KOWA party to continue with campaign for another two weeks, Osadolor told newsmen in Benin on Saturday.
Recall that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), last week Thursday, announced that it had extended the date for the Edo state governorship elections by two weeks.
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Osadolor noted, however, that he was not totally backing out from the race, but that he is rather throwing his weight behind Ize-Iyamu having shared similar manifesto.
“I and my party have put in a lot financially and time to campaign across the nook and cranny of the state these past weeks.
“Through this rigorous campaign, the people have come to identify with us, from a party that was not popular in the state to one of the leading parties.
“An opinion poll has rated us as one of the party likely to win the election.
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“Be that as it may, the recent announcement by the electoral body has destabilised us. For a party that does not have money to have put in much to campaign across the state, I don’t think we can afford to campaign for another two weeks.
“For that reason, while I am not withdrawing from the race, the party (KOWA) will now back the PDP candidate for the new date rescheduled for the election,’’ Osadolor said.
“I quite understand that lots of people have been criticising the PDP candidate, especially on his role in the infamous Lucky Igbinedion’s government, I, however, want them to understand that he was not the governor.
“He (Ize-Iyamu) can only do the bidding of his principal. But they should also know now that when he becomes the governor, he will be in a better position to do those things they expected of him.
“On a personal note, the election has cost me much and I cannot sustain another two weeks of another campaign. I had already bought ticket to fly back to my base immediately after the poll, now I have to go and rescheduled the ticket.
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“The same thing applied to my children and well-wishers who had already bought tickets to come to felicitate with me after winning the poll. The postponement has affected all of us,” he lamented.
“If they are citing security challenges for the postponement, what is the assurance that this will be sorted out before the new date,” he asked.
