A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and Edo South Senatorial aspirant, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has denied allegations linking him to the cloning of Tuesday’s edition of Vanguard Newspaper, describing the claims as false, malicious and politically motivated.
Speaking with journalists at his residence in Benin City on Wednesday, Ize-Iyamu accused unnamed political actors of attempting to tarnish his reputation amid the controversy surrounding the APC Edo South Senatorial primary election.
According to him, the allegedly cloned newspaper front page falsely suggested that he had secured the senatorial ticket through the intervention of the National Working Committee, NWC, of the APC.
“These people are desperate and they want to soil my name and reputation. You can imagine the level of mischief. They even went as far as claiming that I want to contest for the 2027 presidential election,” he said.
Ize-Iyamu maintained that he remains loyal to President Bola Tinubu and the APC, stressing that he had directed all his supporters to vote for the President during the party’s primary election.
“As a committed party man, I instructed all my supporters to vote for President Bola Tinubu during the primary election, which he won convincingly. Yet, these mischief makers are pushing false narratives that I have presidential ambitions,” he added.
The former Edo governorship candidate also disclosed that his lawyers, Faithful Stewards Solicitors, had issued a legal notice to Collins Osaghae, Special Adviser on Digital Media to Governor Monday Okpebholo, over alleged defamatory statements linked to the circulation of the controversial publication.
In the letter, the law firm reportedly described allegations that their client cloned the Vanguard front page as “false, malicious and libelous,” demanding that Osaghae provide evidence proving that Ize-Iyamu forged, authorized, or participated in the circulation of the publication.
The lawyers further demanded a public apology and retraction within 48 hours, to be published in seven national newspapers, aired on seven television stations, and circulated across multiple online platforms.
They also demanded N2 billion in damages for alleged defamation.
The law firm described Ize-Iyamu as “a responsible family head, legal practitioner, ordained minister, businessman, farmer, and respected political figure,” arguing that the allegations were aimed at damaging his hard-earned reputation and political ambition.
The controversy follows the APC Edo South Senatorial primary election, where Ize-Iyamu contested alongside Senator Neda Imasuen and Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama. While Ogbeide-Ihama was declared winner by the party’s primary election committee, Ize-Iyamu has continued to challenge the outcome, insisting that he won the exercise.
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