The All Progressive Congress, APC will flag- off the campaign of its governorship candidate for the September 19 election in Edo State, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu. The flag-off campaign is scheduled for Saturday 8 in Benin City and it is expected to be a mother of all campaigns in the state.
The rally will be a show of ‘Who is Who’ in the APC.
The election is just seven weeks away and the APC is not taking chances to ensure that its candidate Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu emerges victorious.
Top APC politicians, including former Governors and the party’s caretaker committee will be in Benin City for the event on Saturday.
Politicians expected in the rally include:
Senate President of Nigeria, Senator Ahmed Lawan,
APC National Leader and Former Governor of Lagos State, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, also known as ‘Jagaban’,
former Senate President of Nigeria, Senator Ken Nnamani. Others are;
Lagos State Governor, His Excellency Mr Babajide Sanwolu,
Governor of Kano State, His Excellency Abdullahi Umaro Ganduje,
Imo State Governor, His Excellency Senator Hope Uzodinma,
Minister Of Niger Delta Affairs and former Governor of Akwa Ibom State Barrister Godswill Akpabio, as well as all the governors elected under the platform of the All Progressive Congress.
Also expected at the flag-off campaign are members of the National Assembly elected under the platform of the APC and other stalwarts of the ruling All Progressive Congress.
Reports have it that President Muhammadu Buhari will not be in attendance because he has reduced his public functions due to COVID-19, but will be represented by a top government official.
With these heavyweight politicians of APC arriving Benin City, it would be a total shut down of the city.
The APC will show its strength and influence as the ruling party in Nigeria. It will also boost the campaign of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu who is contesting for the second time to occupy Osadebe House.
It was reported that Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, who will be presented the party’s flag at event, was invited to Aso Rock Villa by President Muhammadu Buhari for discussions, ostensibly over the flag-off campaign and the election.
The political activities in Edo State have heightened as political parties have been moving round the state asking for votes from the electorates. Two weeks ago, the People’s Democratic Party, PDP flagged-off its campaign in Benin City. The event saw the Senate Minority Leader Enyinnaya Abaribe, Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, Sokoto State Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, the PDP NWC and other top members of the party in attendance.
The race to occupy Edo Government House for the next four years is undoubtedly between Governor Godwin Obaseki of the PDP and Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the APC. The two candidates contested for the same office four years ago, but in different political parties.