BENIN CITY – A Benin based social-cultural and Political Monitoring Group, EDO LENS, has advised the Peoples Democratic Party’s Candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu in the just concluded Governorship Election in Edo State  to accept his defeat at the polls.

The group’s spokesman, Elder Destiny Evbakoe who addressed news men in Benin City at the weekend, said the call by the group was necessitated by their findings- including poor preparation of PDP candidate before the election.

He said their findings also revealed that many of their ‘supporters’ deceived the PDP and its candidate whereas they intended to vote for continuity which led to the landslide victory of Mr Godwin Obaseki of All Progressives Congress.

According to Elder Destiny Evbakoe, “It was actually the period his arch enemies had been waiting to pay him back for his atrocities of the past including being rude and disloyal to their mentor and godfather.

He added: “the ill-conceived and sponsored protest being organized by the PDP against the outcome of the most credible, transparent, free and fair election ever conducted in the history of Edo State further infuriate Edo people.”

“Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu should learn from history, the tragedy that befell those who have contested similar elections in the State and against all sense of reasoning and caution by Edo people to accept their loss but went to the Election Petition Tribunals to try their luck which eventually ruined their chances to get support from the Benin people.”

Meanwhile, an insider within the PDP power-house who pleaded anonymity stated that their governorship candidate in connivance with his caucus within the State leadership, shortchanged some of the party leaders when the huge funds contributed by some PDP States were being shared, according to him, a situation which compelled most supporters of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu to work against his desperation to take the baton of the state.

The Political Monitoring Group said  those persuading Pastor Osagie Ize Iyamu including leaderships of PDP in Edo Central and North to challenge the poll at the Election Petition Tribunal are interested in what they will gain.

The group asserted that his plan to contest the September 28 governorship poll at the state Election Petition Tribunal is a wild goose chase hence they have no bases to challenge the poll.

He said the PDP candidate did not prepare for 2016 governorship poll which led to his abysmal failure at the election, Elder Destiny Evbakoe therefore advised that “it is better he starts to prepare for another election in 2020 if he so desires.”