The former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, has rejected the recognition given to Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu as the candidate for the September 10 governorship election in Edo State.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had, during the week, accepted Ize-Iyamu’s nomination. Ize-Iyamu’s name was submitted by the Ahmed Makarfi-led Caretaker Committee.
But, speaking in Abuja yesterday, Sheriff’s deputy, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, described INEC’s decision to accept Ize-Iyamu as a “mere rumour”.
Ojougboh spoke while receiving a delegation of professionals from the Southsouth geo-political zone.
Ojougboh said: ”We heard a rumour making the rounds that INEC has accepted another person as candidate of the PDP for the Edo State governorship election
“I hereby dispel the rumour and categorically state that INEC has not yet communicated the decision to us”.
According to him, INEC was still considering the judgements and court orders arising from the lingering leadership crisis
He said the Federal High Court in Abuja had specifically asked the INEC to recognise only candidates presented by Sheriff.
Ojougboh said: “The court in Port Harcourt is not superior to the court in Abuja, and as such cannot reverse the specific orders of the Abuja court ruling that INEC can only accept PDP candidates from the Sheriff-led executive for purposes of Edo and Ondo governorship elections.”
He appealed to members of the party, particularly in Edo State, to remain calm as the matter was being sorted out. He urged the camp’s parallel candidate, Mr. Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, to continue with his electioneering campaign.
The Makarfi camp has continued to record victories against the Sheriff camp in most of the court cases arising from the festering crisis in the party
source: the nation
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