Ize-Iyamu Denies Viral Video Inviting Obaseki Back To APC, Urges Journalists To Be More Professional

The Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the recently conducted governorship election in Edo State, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, on Thursday denied the video which suggested that he appealed to Governor Godwin Obaseki to return to the APC.

Ize-Iyamu disowned the viral video after some news media in the country reported that he had, in a television broadcast on Wednesday night, called on Obaseki, who is now in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to return to his former party.

Obaseki had defeated Ize-Iyamu at the September 19th governorship election in the state on the platform of the PDP. He joined the PDP after he was denied the APC ticket over alleged discrepancies in his academic credentials.

In a statement issued by his media aide, John Mayaki, the APC candidate said the video was not a recent one, urging the media to be more professional in their reportage.

He accused Obaseki and the PDP of doctoring the video to make it sound as a new one and circulated it in the media.

He said: “The media has once again lent itself to the fabrications of Governor Godwin Obaseki and the PDP, as they did throughout the election.

“We warned several times that the media should beware of fabrications from Obaseki and the PDP camp, but they did not listen. That is why they have reported that the election was free and fair, and that is why they have said our candidate appealed to Obaseki to come back to APC. The video in reference is from three months ago, not after the election but doctored by Governor Obaseki media handlers to seek undue legitimacy

“Pastor Ize-Iyamu was reported in the stories as speaking from Abuja, but it was the Benin reporters that covered the story. Were the reporters transported to Abuja? Do these media agencies actually believe the stories they carry? Obaseki and the PDP have a way of leaking false news to the media and the media has to be sensitive and professional in receiving these news.

“I only wish the media had been more professional during the elections; they were not and what is done is done. They don’t know how violent and anti-democratic it was in several parts of Edo State, including Egor in Benin City, and so they reported that the election was free and fair. At least, going forward, let them verify all news before passing it on. It is the basic ethic of the profession.”