Pastor Ozagie Ize-Iyamu, the All Progressives Congress, APC governorship candidate in Edo state has denied the report that he asked Governor Godwin Obaseki to return to APC.
In a statement, on Thursday, by the Director of Communication and Media, Prince John Mayaki, Ize-Iyamu stated that he has not been in touch or interviewed or addressed any media after the election results were out.
He declared that it was not true that he pleaded with Obaseki to return to the APC at a news conference on Wednesday in Abuja, while insisting that nothing of such happened.
Mayaki stated, “We warned many times the media should beware of fabrications from Obaseki and the PDP’s camp, but they did not listen.
“That is why they have reported that the election was free and fair, and that is why they have said our candidate pleaded with Obaseki to come back to APC.
“The video in reference is from three months ago, not after the election but doctored by Obaseki’s media handlers to seek undue legitimacy.
“We wonder if the media were being sponsored by Obaseki and the PDP, as it seems implausible that they actually believed the story.
“This is even more so, when reporters in Benin City would report Pastor Ize-Iyamu, who is currently in Abuja, where the various media organisations are also domiciled, this is to tell you the suspicion inherent in the viral video.
“Pastor Ize-Iyamu was reported in the stories as speaking from Abuja but it was the Benin reporters that covered the story. Were the reporters transported to Abuja?
“Do these media agencies actually believe the stories they carry? Obaseki and the PDP have a way of leaking false news to the media. The media have to be sensitive and professional in receiving these news.”
He went on to advise the media that they should avoid “fake news’ like a plague and that they should always verify and release a 100% true story.
