IGP cancels rally organised to welcome Ize-Iyamu to APC

Mohammed Adamu, inspector-general of police (IGP), has ordered the suspension of a rally the All Progressives Congress (APC) organised to welcome Osagie Ize-Iyamu into the ruling party.

Ize-Iyamu, governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2016 governorship election, had defected to the APC after the clash between Adams Oshiomhole, national chairman of the ruling party, and Godwin Obaseki, the governor.

Ize-Iyamu had lost the previous governorship election to Obaseki but there are reports that Oshiomhole is backing him to clinch the APC ticket for the 2020 gubernatorial race.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, Philip Shaibu, deputy governor of Edo state, said he received the letter suspending the rally, at the force headquarters around 5pm on Thursday.

He said he had told the IGP that the security of the participants of the event could not be guaranteed.

According to Shaibu, the rally was “a mere disguise to disrupt public peace”.

He said it was “heartbreaking” that Oshiomhole, whom he described as his father, was leading the campaign to “create division within the party”.

He said Oshiomhole, who has been suspended from the party in the state, has no say in decisions taken in the state.

The IGP earlier granted the APC permission to hold the event but Godwin Obaseki, governor of Edo, said he was not aware of any ”APC rally” in the state.

Anselm Ojezua, the state APC chairman, also said party leaders were unaware of the rally and asked members in the state not to participate in the event.