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EDO ELECTION: Ize-Iyamu accepts defeat, questions Obaseki’s eligibility
BY NICHOLAS ABE
All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the just-concluded Edo governorship election, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, says he will not go to court over his loss to the incumbent governor, Godwin Obaseki of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
Even though Ize-Iyamu faulted the outcome of the election which gave victory to Obaseki and returned him for a second term in office, he however continued to question the eligibility of Obaseki to contest the election.
In a statement he personally signed on Monday, he said his decision to not contest the result in court was borne out of his desire not to further heat up tension in the state but insisted that the election was neither free nor fair contrary to reports, alleging there “were several episodes of violence, voter intimidation and falsification of results.”
He said: “There were unlawful cancellations of results, particularly from Urhonigbe South and North in Orhiomwon, while results were falsified from many polling units in Ofunama in Ovia South West, and in parts of Ovia North East, Owan West, Oredo, Egor, Ikpoba-Okha, Esan North East, Esan West, Esan South East, and Uhunmwode Local Government Areas.”
The Nation reports that Ize-Iyamu accused security agents of collusion, saying they refused to intervene when “gun-wielding thugs took over collation centres in many locations.”
READ: Why I lost Edo governorship election – Ize-Iyamu
The former Edo Secretary to the State Government (SSG) added that, “there were also several cases of malfunctioning card readers, which disenfranchised duly registered voters in addition to many cases of unregistered voters voting with pre-purchased voters’ cards not collected by their actual owners.”
These malpractices, according to him, could easily form the basis to challenge the election results.
He however said: “We have decided not to commence an election petition. This is to avoid further tension in the state.
“We are also mindful that the leadership of our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and many well-placed individuals have made pronouncements endorsing the process, which we have chosen to respect.”
He however said he would continue to pursue two pre-election cases challenging Governor Godwin Obaseki’s eligibility to contest the poll just “as the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its flagbearer have continued to pursue several pre-election suits in various courts against us, all totalling 13.
“Consequently, we have decided to continue with our pre-election cases in full exercise of our legal rights, just as our opponents have considered it their prerogative to also continue with their pre-election cases against us.”