A chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, Okharedia Ihimekpen, has cautioned leaders and members of his party not to underrate the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.

Ihimekpen, Monday at an interactive session with reporters in Benin, expressed optimism that Governor Godwin Obaseki would emerge victorious on September 19, but added that PDP members in Edo must work much harder.

He said: “I know that Pastor Ize- Iyamu is a strong tactician, he is very perfect in planning and he is a grassroots man. You do not underrate him, if you do; it is at your peril. So, if you say ‘I am a governor, nothing is happening,’ you sit down and swim in joy, thinking that you have arrived; you will only be deceiving yourself. If you do not close mark Pastor Ize-Iyamu, you will be shocked.

“Look at the person that Pastor Ize-Iyamu picked as his running mate, Hon. Ganiyu Audu, also a grassroots politician from Edo North Senatorial District as the deputy to Governor Obaseki, Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu. Hon. Audu is the engine room of Edo North Senatorial District and he is a perfect gentleman, who knows what politics is all about.

“The combination of Pastor Ize-Iyamu, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole (former National Chairman of APC/ex-Governor of Edo State) and Audu, coupled with the sympathy of the people of Edo North Senatorial District for their son (Oshiomhole) is a danger that the PDP members must contend with.

“PDP members in Edo State can survive on September 19, if they start planning now. It may interest you to know from the reports on my table that Pastor Ize-Iyamu has set up 25 committees to combat PDP, but the PDP members are still drinking, believing we have won.”

Ihimekpen, who was among the six people that held the first meeting of the PDP in 1998, pointed out that in spite of 14 political parties participating in the September 19 governorship election in Edo state, it would be a battle between Obaseki and Ize-Iyamu.

He said: “Winning the September 19 election is a 50/50 chance for Governor Obaseki, because the disaster that happened to Comrade Oshiomhole lately has brought all the people of Edo North Senatorial District together to be in sympathy with him. You cannot just humiliate their son out of power at the national level and think you will get their support. They will sink and die with him (Oshiomhole). So, if you ask me a million times, I will tell you a million times that the election is going to be 50/50 on both sides.

“The battle is between the two political parties. PDP wants Governor Obaseki to win the governorship election, and APC members are afraid, because they have lost one big thing. That is why President Muhammadu Buhari said all APC governors should be ready to go to Edo and deliver the state for APC. So, it is going to be 50/50.

“If you look at the calculations now, PDP will win. However, I still advise Governor Obaseki to be checking his men and be watching his back, because if he does not, his closest persons can stab him in the back. Governor Obaseki has brought life into the PDP in Edo State and that is causing confusion in APC. They are still thinking that they may not be able to recover from the shock.”

Ihimekpen, a one-time Director of Communications during the tenure of Chief Lucky Igbinedion as Edo governor, also stated that Obaseki came to PDP as leverage to save his political career, because he was almost going into political oblivion.

He said: “Governor Obaseki would have been retired politically, due to what happened in his former party (APC), so, when the disaster happened to him in his party, he was looking for a place to go, and PDP was also looking for an image that can also help to lift the party, and they saw him as a big opportunity.

“Governor Obaseki had to pass through every thick and thin to ensure he got on board in PDP. Bear in mind that in Edo PDP, there were persons who were there before Governor Obaseki, who never wanted him, they were aggrieved and they did everything possible to ensure they frustrated him.

“All politicians are platform seekers. Governor Obaseki did not come to PDP because he loved PDP so much, while the PDP members did not want him because he is the only one. Edo governor wanted a political platform to actualise his political dream and PDP also needed him to help win the state it lost many years ago. So, it is a symbolic relationship.”

The PDP chieftain also called for peaceful campaigns and election, in order to move Edo state forward.

https://thenationonlineng.net/underrate-ize-iyamu-at-your-peril-says-edo-pdp-chieftain-2/

Eze Iyamu the prowling tiger looking for whom to devour

Okay

Please, when is the election? I am getting tired of the too many talks since both are for chop chop as usual.

Grassroot politician.... Ize is a goal

Are you also a cultist?

Radiant01:
Grassroot politician.... Ize is a goal

Ize Iyamu has the sympathy and support of over 50% of PDP members. When combined with the another 70% strength of APC, he carries the day

myboy2111:

“PDP members in Edo State can survive on September 19, if they start planning now. It may interest you to know from the reports on my table that Pastor Ize-Iyamu has set up 25 committees to combat PDP, but the PDP members are still drinking, believing we have won.”

The strategic and superior tactical ability of APC will always put them ahead of PDP

nickxtra:
Ize Iyamu has the sympathy and support of over 50% of PDP members. When combined with the another 70% strength of APC, he carries the day

That is what I noticed.he still has a lot of supporters In pdp and combined with APC.obaseki stands no chance

Dansuqi:


The strategic and superior tactical ability of APC will always put them ahead of PDP

No mind all this obaseki supporters on nairaland. The APC is so strong in Edo state, and Ize iyamu is not a push over.

I have the believe Ize iyamu will win.

Obaseki and his supporters will tell you how all the Edo people will vote for PDP. But they forgot that there are so many in the PDP that will work underground with Ize-Iyamu because they've been together for long..
Ize-Iyamu is a grass-root politician and all Obaseki is banking on are those laughing with him calling him His excellency just because of what they want to get from him.
Edo election will be interesting.

This one will likely support POI against his party candidate...

Hmmm...

After oshomole ize iyamu is the Biggest grassroot politician in Edo.
He decamped to APC with his loyalist while others stayed back.
He knows Edo PDP electoral strategies like his back of hand and he still have insiders in pdp. unlike obaseki who has no grassroot base than buying people with money

PDP should not allow over confidence to ruined this golden opportunity that they have in Edo state now or they think oshiomole has gone to sleep abi, they should start their own underground work now.

very correct.

Nigerian youths are the biggest losers.

They did all to support POI in 2016 and called Oshiomole a liar but today they are accepting those things and insulting the man while the Obaseki they insulted in 2016 is now their saint.

If you are not a politician but fighting and insulting online, I pity you because you are their topic of discussion when they are dining in the secret room.

You people should continue fighting for those using your destinies to play bet.

ORIENTATION101:
After oshomole ize iyamu is the Biggest grassroot politician in Edo.
He decamped to APC with his loyalist while others stayed back.
He knows Edo PDP electoral strategies like his back of hand and he still have insiders in pdp. unlike obaseki who has no grassroot base than buying people with money

Correct

if Ize can make Obaseki who had Oshiomole, money and FG in his first govt then what about now that ize have Oshiomole, money and FG. you too reason am now

Sweeetheart:
if Ize can make Obaseki who had Oshiomole, money and FG in his first govt then what about now that ize have Oshiomole, money and FG. you too reason am now

Ok

this is coming from a certified pdp member in edo state while his o line counterpart will tell you how obaseki has already won even in his sleep.
at the end of the day pdp + apc = one party.

This is a very clear programmed articulated article the observant and the writer are too much exactly what will happened....

Ize Iyamu is a goal

gasparpisciotta:
Eze Iyamu the prowling tiger looking for whom to devour

You get it bro.

The man knows this is the chance he's been waiting for.

He's gonna play his life card on it.

spirul77:
this is coming from a certified pdp member in edo state while his o line counterpart will tell you how obaseki has already won even in his sleep.
at the end of the day pdp + apc = one party.

I dey laugh

Sweeetheart:
if Ize can make Obaseki who had Oshiomole, money and FG in his first govt then what about now that ize have Oshiomole, money and FG. you too reason am now

If only you knew that the people who campaigned for Ize-Iyamu the last time have deserted him because they dislike Oshiomhole.
This same people are also doing their home work to make sure APC and Oshiomhole remain buried in Edo State completely.
Ize-Iyamu should not have decamped to APC. If he had little patience he would have been the one enjoying the support.
Mind you Gov. Obaseki is not sleeping, he is working and planning hard, he will come out victorious.
Don't underestimate Obaseki he is a goal getter.

WATCHOVER:

If only you knew that the people who campaigned for Ize-Iyamu the last time have deserted him because they dislike Oshiomhole.
This same people are also doing their home work to make sure APC and Oshiomhole remain buried in Edo State completely.
Ize-Iyamu should not have decamped to APC. If he had little patience he would have been the one enjoying the support.
Mind you Gov. Obaseki is not sleeping, he is working and planning hard, he will come out victorious.
Don't underestimate Obaseki he is a goal getter.

You will know that so many PDP members are still loyal to Ize-Iyamu. It’s a good thing that they both come from the same Senatorial district. Ize-Iyamu will win the district with a wide margin and compensate it with Edo north. Some of those laughing with Obaseki will work against him underground because they will see him as Someone who wants to take control of everything they’ve worked for. This election is going to be like the presidential election where Atiku won all the online polls but couldn’t win the ballot.

Radiant01:
Grassroot politician.... Ize is a goal

slowpoke obaseki is already enjoying his retirement.

Finally the face behind the mask. This man was the anonymous source who said Obaseki had to rain billions to be allowed to run with Shuaibu. It wasn't junk journalism or bear parlour talk afterall.
He is the man they call living ancestor in pdp. Lol

XXLMANDIGO:
Are you also a cultist?

were you a cultist 4yrs ago when ize iyamu was a saint to PDP