Ize-Iyamu, APC Chief Disagree On N200m Election Fund Claims

The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the September 19, 2020 election in Edo State, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has disagreed with a chieftain of the party, Adam Ehigiamusoe, over a N200 million election funds promised the state chapter of the Professional Drivers on Wheels (PDW).

Ehigiamusoe, who is President of the state chapter of PDW at a media briefing in Benin City, yesterday, accused Ize-Iyamu of misappropriating funds meant for the union during the election.

He said Ize-Iyamu’s interest in the APC was self-serving as against the general interest of the party, adding that the money meant for the union to mobilise for the governorship election was not released and that Ize-Iyamu held on to the fund despite all entreaties to release it.

While calling on the APC National Working Committee (NWC) to call Ize-Iyamu to order, he warned that his actions and activities are about destroying the state chapter of the party.

Ehigiamusoe said Ize-Iyamu succeeded in hijacking the party’s structure, adding: “He was not interested in the progress of the party, but what he stands to benefit from the party, he is self-centred and arrogates everything that comes to himself and his cronies.

“As we speak, he has already compromised the forthcoming congress. He has positioned his people for all available positions and, that I fear, will result in parallel congresses holding in the state.

“A man who could not win his council and ward as governorship candidate should not be allowed to take control of the party.

“Ize-Iyamu’s antecedent of destroying party structure is well known, just the same way he destroyed the PDP before defecting, is about the same thing he is doing to APC now.

“That is why I urge the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party to call Ize-Iyamu to order. He must not be allowed to destroy the party we have laboured to build before he joined us,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ize-Iyamu, who denied the allegations, described the claims “as manifestly false.” In a statement issued by his Media Adviser, John Mayaki, he said he never met Ehigiamusoe personally or by proxy to make any promises before, during or after the campaigns.