The aspirants are Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Major-General Charles Airhiavbere (rted), and Mr Chris Ogiemwonyi and former State Deputy governor, Mr Pius Odubu.
On Wednesday, a Federal Capital territory High court, Abuja asked the Oshiomhole to step aside as national Chairman of APC, pending the determination of the substantive suit brought by some aggrieved members of the party in Edo State against the later.
Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu who spoke at a Press Conference on Thursday in Benin City, the State Capital, appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari and the national leader of APC, Ahmed Tinubu to save them from the from the oppressive tendencies of the State governor, Godwin Obaseki and redeem the party from collapse.
He urged the national leadership of APC to sanction saboteurs in the State Chapter of the party irrespective of the status of the individual and save the party from ridicule.
Ize-Iyamu who spoke on behalf of other aspirants, berated governor Obaseki and his supporters for publicly celebrating Oshiomhole’s suspension on Wednesday.
“Oshiomhole is an asset to APC and Edo State and we will not allow anybody to rubbish him.
“We have said it over and again that our disposition to peace should not be taken for weakness”, he said.
He also accused the Governor of aborting the nomination of Dr Pius Odubu as NDDC board Chairman by President Muhammadu.
“I was ashamed when I saw the Governor yesterday (Wednesday) singing and jubilating in Benin over the suspension of Adams Oshiomhole as national Chairman of APC.
“The question is does the suspension of Oshiomhole guarantee your second term in office? It shows how shallow they are in their thinking.
“If you remove the national Chairman of APC who is from Edo State, will you get a replacement in Edo State?”, he asked.
According to him, the same governor kicked against Pius Odubu nomination as Chairman on NDDC board. Some of them occupies a prominent position in APC, but, at heart, they have long decamped from PDP. That is why the call on President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene is apt.
While assuring that APC under Adams Oshiomhole, was intact, Ize-Iyamu, said the national Chairman of the party does not translate to automatic ticket for the incumbent Governor.
Earlier in a remark, Edo State former Attorney-General, Henry Idahagbon, accused the Governor of fleecing members who do not support his re-election.
He urged President Muhammadu Buhari and Ahmed Bola Tinubu to come to their rescue, adding that they have suffered persecution for too long under the administration of Governor Godwin Obaseki.
Idahagbon who recalled how he escaped when gunmen allegedly attacked his law firm in Benin City, said: “I am a recipient of 2,900 pellets, so the national leadership of out party should come if they do not want them to crush or kill us”, he said.