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Edo 2020: Oshiomhole dumps Odubu, Backs Ize-Iyamu
Ahead of the September 19, 2020 governorship election in Edo State, the hope of a former deputy governor of the state, Pius Odubu; a former Minister of State for Works, Engr. Chris Ogiemwonyi, and Maj.-Gen. Charles Airhiavbere (rtd.) to become the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) appears to have been dashed as the party prepares for the governorship primary slated for next month.
A credible source in the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) told Daily Independent that Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, APC National Chairman, had settled for Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, a former governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who formally joined the APC in December 2019, as his preferred choice.
It would be recalled that a mock primary was organised by the four aspirants few days ago to select a consensus candidate who will face incumbent governor, Godwin Obaseki, in the primary.
However, thugs allegedly sponsored by one of the hopefuls invaded the venue and dispersed those in attendance while the voting exercise was going on.
According to our source, having realised that the aspirants had failed to agree among themselves on who becomes the consensus candidate, Oshiomhole, who facilitated Ize-Iyamu’s return to the APC, settled for his emergence and would likely face Obaseki at the primary billed to hold on June 22.
“As it stands, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu is confirmed for Edo APC. Oshiomhole has already made up his mind on that.
“Since he has given the four of them the privilege to pick a consensus candidate but they have failed to do so, with time ticking out, he has settled for Ize-Iyamu.
“Don’t forget that Oshiomhole masterminded his return to the APC despite the fact that the likes of Odubu, Ogiemwonyi, Airhiavbere and others are strong candidates in their own right.
“The earlier the other aspirants queue behind Ize- Iyamu, the better for them”.
“Based on Oshiomhole’s plans, I foresee a situation where Ize-Iyamu will emerge the candidate.
“At this stage, only President Muhammadu Buhari can change that because all the Abuja forces loyal to Oshiomhole have agreed on that,” the source revealed.
Another party source said except President Buhari intervenes, Governor Obaseki may be walking a tightrope as Oshiomhole would use his position as national chairman to his advantage in selecting the candidate.
“The Oshiomhole camp will attempt to disqualify Obaseki at the screening level before the primaries.
“Don’t forget what happened in Kogi where many strong aspirants who were seen as threats to Governor Yahaya Bello were screened out,” he said.
Our correspondent also gathered that Governor Obaseki is already in Abuja and would meet President Buhari today on the controversy surrounding the mode of primary to be adopted by the party.
While Edo APC led by Anselm Ojezua said it was adopting the indirect primary method, which involves only accredited delegates, the NWC, led by Oshiomhole, said it had adopted the direct primary option, which involves all card-carrying members of the party.
However, Governor Obaseki said as the chief security officer of the state, he was opposed to the idea of direct primary now because of the COVID-19 pandemic in the state.
The governor, who spoke through Crusoe Osagie, his Special Adviser on Media and Communication Strategy, said as an extremely popular candidate, he was not afraid of any mode of primary and would defeat any aspirant who slugged it out with him for the APC ticket.
According to him, gathering together over 500,000 party members in the name of primary may trigger the number of COVID-19 cases already in the state, a situation he said would put more lives at risk.
“The governor of Edo State and leader of the APC in the state, Governor Godwin Obaseki, is an extremely popular candidate who will defeat any aspirant that contests the party’s ticket in whatever means of primary that is used.
“The question we should ask is, ‘Is direct primary the better alternative now in the midst of this COVID-19 pandemic?
“Governor Obaseki, as a responsible citizen and chief security officer of Edo State, will not take any action that will put the health and safety of the good people of the state at risk.
“That is why we are opposed to the idea of direct primary at this period,” Osagie said.
Also speaking, Hon. Paul Ohonbamu, the Edo State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, said it was erroneous for some people to claim that Governor Obaseki was unpopular which explains why he was opposed to the direct primary method.
According to him, it is unfair for Oshiomhole to preside over the selection of the party’s governorship candidate, having publicly shown that he was desperate for Governor Obaseki not to be re-elected.
He said: “The governor of Edo State is not afraid of direct primary. He is ready for any form of primary.
“The constitution allows for either direct, indirect, or consensus, which was used to bring Oshiomhole back for his second term.
“But this time, they are saying consensus is undemocratic but when it was used for Oshiomhole, it was not undemocratic.
“Now that it is Obaseki’s turn, it becomes undemocratic. You can see how they are propagating two moralities.
“Few days ago, the NWC, led by Oshiomhole, said they had granted a waiver to Ize- Iyamu.
“However, the APC constitution said waiver can be granted subject to the approval of the National Executive Committee (NEC).
“The question now is, when did NEC meet to approve that waiver that was granted to Ize-Iyamu?
“In 2018, the NEC of the party said the mode of primary will be determined by the state.
“I don’t see anywhere NEC has met again to change that position. But Oshiomhole is trying to force his position on the state.
“Aside that, the general question in Edo right now is, how do you gather all the party members in the state together for primary, considering the dreaded coronavirus in this country and the need to observe social distancing?
“Other states are doing all they can to stem the tide of the virus and Edo shouldn’t be acting differently?”

News
Oyo 2027: Adelabu Quits As Power Minister To Focus On Guber Race
The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu has formally resigned from his position in the Federal Government to pursue his governorship ambition in Oyo State.
In a resignation letter dated April 22, 2026, and addressed to the President, Adelabu stated that his resignation will take effect on April 30, 2026, to enable him to focus on his governorship ambition in Oyo State.
The letter, routed through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, stated that he was stepping down with “a deep sense of honour and profound gratitude.”
He wrote, “I write with a deep sense of honour and profound gratitude to formally tender my resignation as the Honourable Minister of Power of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This resignation is to take effect on 30th April 2026, in order to allow sufficient time for a smooth and orderly handover of responsibilities.”
Adelabu thanked the President for the opportunity to serve, describing his appointment as a privilege.
He said, “Your Excellency, I remain sincerely grateful for the privilege and confidence you reposed in me by appointing me to serve our great nation in this capacity.
“It has been a rare honour to contribute to national development under your leadership and to play a role in advancing reforms in the power sector—one of the most critical foundations of Nigeria’s industrial growth and economic transformation.”
The former minister said his resignation was to enable him focus fully on his governorship ambition in Oyo State, citing provisions of the amended electoral law.
He added, “My decision to step down is informed by my intention to focus fully on my gubernatorial ambition in Oyo State. This aspiration, which dates back to 2016 during my service as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, ultimately led to my voluntary resignation from the Central Bank in 2018 in order to pursue the same goal.”
“In line with the provisions of the Amended Electoral Act 2026, which preclude political office holders from contesting elections, I consider it both appropriate and necessary to resign at this time.”
Adelabu’s exit marks a major political development ahead of the next electoral cycle, particularly in Oyo State, where he is expected to contest the governorship election.
News
Wale Edun, Musa Dangiwa Resigned Voluntarily, Not Sacked – Presidency
The Presidency has clarified that Wale Edun (former Finance Minister) and Ahmed Musa Dangiwa (former Housing Minister) voluntarily resigned from their positions and were not sacked by President Tinubu.
In a statement released this evening April 22, presidential media aide, Bayo Onanuga, said that contrary to public opinions, Wale Edun resigned on health grounds while Dangiwa also tendered his resignation and thanked the President for the opportunity given him to serve in the Federal Executive Council.
Onanuga stated that Edun, who clocked 70 on Monday and has battled recent ill health, fittingly submitted his resignation letter on his birthday, thanking the President for the opportunity to serve Nigeria.
“It has been a pleasure and privilege to serve your administration and the Renewed Hope Agenda, Under your leadership, Nigeria has emerged stronger, more resilient and more internationally respected. I wish you and the administration every success in the future” he wrote
Onanuga stated that on Tuesday, before the Office of the Secretary of the Government of the Federation announced his departure from the Cabinet, Edun paid a valedictory visit to the President at the Villa and held an hour-long discussion with the president and then left to focus on his private businesses.
The presidential aide stated that President Tinubu has expressed deep appreciation to Edun and Dangiwa for their dedicated service and significant contributions to the administration’s economic reform programme and wished them continued success in their future endeavours.
‘’In the same vein, the President has urged the new Minister of Finance, Taiwo Oyedele, to consolidate ongoing reforms and advance the administration’s fiscal and economic objectives with renewed focus, discipline, and innovation.
President Tinubu will shortly send the ministerial nominee for housing, Muttaqha Rabe Darma, also from Katsina, like Dangiwa, to the Senate for confirmation” the statement concluded
News
Unity Bank, Experts Advocate Green Investment, Climate Innovation To Drive Economic Resilience
Nigeria’s retail lender, Unity Bank Plc, alongside leading climate innovation experts, has called for increased investment in the green economy and the adoption of frontier technologies as critical pathways to driving economic resilience and reducing the impact of climate change on vulnerable populations across Africa.
The call was made during a thought-provoking webinar hosted by the Bank to commemorate this year’s Earth Day, themed “The True Cost of Climate Change and Who Pays?”. Climate experts and stakeholders convened to examine the human, economic, and institutional costs of climate change, while spotlighting practical solutions to address its growing impact.
In his opening remarks, Unity Bank’s Head of Strategy and Innovation, Ibukun Coker, emphasised the urgency of addressing climate risks from both a societal and business perspective.
He said: “Climate change is no longer a distant or abstract challenge. It is an existential threat with direct consequences for individuals, businesses, and economies. At Unity Bank, we recognise the role institutions must play in incorporating sustainability in project financing, supporting businesses and promoting solutions that build resilience in communities where we operate.”
The webinar featured Chinwe Udo-Davis, Founder and CEO of Instollar, and Oluwatosin Ajide, Programme Manager at the Nigeria Climate Innovation Centre, both of whom provided insights into the drivers of climate change and the pathways to mitigation and adaptation.
Speaking during the session, Udo-Davis highlighted the disproportionate burden which climate change places on underserved communities and the need for inclusive solutions.
“The true cost of climate change is not evenly distributed. Communities with the least resources are often the most affected, whether through energy poverty, environmental degradation, or limited access to sustainable alternatives. Addressing this imbalance requires intentional investment in clean energy solutions that are both accessible and scalable.”
Ajide underscored the importance of coordinated, system-wide approaches in tackling climate challenges, particularly through innovation and policy alignment.
“Climate change is fundamentally a structural problem, and its solution requires a paradigm shift: from innovation and policy to financing and implementation. Stakeholders must work collaboratively to drive solutions that are sustainable and inclusive.”
The session also explored emerging opportunities in climate technology, renewable energy, and ecosystem financing, reinforcing the role of innovation and cross-sector collaboration in building long-term resilience.
By hosting the webinar, Unity Bank continues to demonstrate its commitment to advancing sustainability-focused dialogue and supporting initiatives that promote responsible growth and environmental stewardship.
The initiative underscores the Bank’s broader strategic focus on environmental sustainability as well as its commitment to financial inclusion.
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