…denies stepping down from Saturday poll
The gubernatorial candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Engr. Osarenren Derek Izedonmwen, has debunked claims making the rounds that he has stepped down from the Saturday, September 21 governorship election in Edo State and endorsed another candidate.
Izedonmwen, in a press statement he personally signed, which was made available to journalists in Benin City on Tuesday, raised alarm of a plot by some individuals, parading themselves as members and leaders of ADC in Edo State to announce that the party’s campaign structure is collapsing in support of the candidate of another party.
The ADC governorship candidate insisted that the action is false, deceitful, and an insult to the intelligence of the good people of Edo State.
While insisting that he is still very much in the race and has no intention of either stepping down or endorsing any candidate, he described the self-styled members and leaders of the party in Edo State as political merchants who have made it their stock in trade to sell out the will of the people for personal gain.
“It has come to my attention that certain individuals, parading themselves as members and leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Edo state, are planning to announce that our campaign structure is collapsing in support of another party. Let me be clear: this is false, deceitful, and an insult to the intelligence of the good people of Edo State,” Izedonmwen said in the statement.
“These are political merchants who have made it their stock in trade to sell out the will of the people for personal gain. I categorically condemn any such pronouncement and make it unequivocally clear that I, Osarenren Derek Izedonmwen, Edo state Gubernatorial Candidate of the ADC, remain firmly in this race. Neither I nor the ADC has collapsed our party structure in favour of any party.
“I urge all well-meaning citizens of Edo, especially our supporters, to reject these lies and the cheap politicking they represent. We stand for hope, transformation, and the future of Edo State. Let us shun this gutter politics and focus on delivering a better future for our state.
“On Saturday, the 21st of September, I call on you to come out in your numbers and vote for the ADC-The party with a handshake sign.
“Edo deserves better, and together, we will deliver better. Thank you, and God bless Edo State,” he said.
