Candidates of two political parties in the rescheduled governorship election in Edo state on Monday announced their withdrawal from the election to work for the candidacy of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
BusinessDay reports that four governorship candidates have so far withdrew from the race to support the PDP candidate.
The two candidates that have adopted the PDP candidate for the party, Osagie-Ize Iyamu are Ishaka Paul Ofomile of the Action Alliance (AA) and Andrew Igwemoh of the Advanced Congress of Democrats (ACD).
Recall that penultimate week candidates of the KOWA Party, Thompson Osadolor, and the People for Democratic Change (PDC), Bishop Akharame, had stepped down for the PDP, Osagie Ize-Iyamu.
The duo who made the declaration at a PDP rally held in Okpella, Etsako East Local Government Area, said their decision to endorse the PDP candidate was that he offers the best hope for the people of the state.
The ACD candidate, Andrew Igwemoh who spoke for his Action Alliance counterpart opined that it would have been easy for them to align with their brother governor and the All Progressives Congress (APC), but the issue of who governs Edo State was not a “brotherly affair.”
Igwemoh is from the same Iyamho community with the state Governor Adams Oshiomhole while the AA candidate, Ishaka Ofomile is from Okpella, suburbs of Iyamho.
The duo both contested for the 2012 governorship election in the state. Igwemoh contested on the platform of Labour Party.
The ACD candidate who noted that the Governor Adams Oshiomhole-led APC government only developed a section of Iyamho community however regretted that the governor has succeeded in building a university in Iyamho that is not affordable for the people of the community.
“We have collapsed our structure and are now working for a team that can take Edo State to the eldorado. They (APC) promised to create 100,000 jobs when they have not even created 100,000 jobs.” He said.
In his remark, the PDP governorship candidate, Osagie Ize-Iyamu regretted that Governor Oshiomhole abandoned Okpella despite the overwhelming support given to him during the precious elections.
Iyamu added that the governor ruled as if Okpella was not part of Etsako and did not harness the huge mineral deposits it possesses.
“I want to assure you that we will not disappoint you. We will harness the huge mineral resources in Okpella. They have punished you for too long and you must punish them for abandoning you”, he stated.
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