Jethro Ibileke/Benin‎

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Ize-Iyamu

Following his defeat at the recently concluded Edo state governorship election, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has appealed to the his supporters across the state who feel dissatisfied with the outcome of the election not to take the laws into their hands by engaging in violent demonstrations or destruction of public property.

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Ize-Iyamu who made the appeal in a television and radio broadcast, reminded his supporters that there were many options were left to seek redress.

According to him, “We can go to the elections tribunal. We can call a World Press Conference to let the world know what transpired or we can leave everything to God.

“No matter how you feel, please conduct yourselves in civilized manner because the will of God must prevail. If God says I, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, will be governor, no amount of rigging can stop it. So we must keep hope alive. Let us continue to hope and believe in our country.”

The PDP governorship candidate stated that the result declared by INEC was nothing short of pre-arranged allocation of votes.

“There is no doubt that the results declared by INEC gives all of us cause for concern.  For example the so-called winner of the elections was credited with less than 320, 000 votes while I who INEC claimed lost, was credited with less than 300, 000 votes. This is not true.

“The results exposes the fraud orchestrated by INEC. The incident was nothing short of pre-arranged allocation of votes. That is why despite the so-called victory, we are all witnesses to the gloom and sadness that has enveloped the state ever since.

“More than the results of the elections, I thank God that no life was lost before and during the elections, despite all plans by certain political parties. This was our prayer to God that no life should be lost in the course of the elections,” he said.

Pastor Ize-Iyamu while appreciating his supporters for defying fears and threats to massively turn out and vote for him, thanked them for the confidence they reposed in him and his running mate, Hon John Yakubu, saying “I believe that democracy remains the best option for us as a people despite all its imperfections. I also believe that we must remain committed to getting it right as a people and a nation.”