After a mega rally organized to receive him was botched, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the last gubernatorial election in Edo State, Pastor Osagie Ize -Iyamu on Friday formally joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) at his residence located in the Ugbor area of Benin City, the state capital.

The scheduled venue for the ceremony, Garrick Memorial Schools playground was on the orders of the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu sealed by the Police for security reasons.

Welcoming Ize-Iyamu to the APC, the factional chairman of the party in the state, Col. David Imuse (rtd) presented him and his supporters with a broom which is the APC party symbol.

He said the coming of Ize-Iyamu and his supporters from the 18 local government areas of the state into the APC was a homecoming worthy of celebration, adding that it would add value to the party.

“We are here to celebrate the homecoming of our brothers and sisters from the PDP who have come to add value to our party not only to add value, they are coming to make our party grow from strength to strength so that we can win at all levels,” he said.

While urging all members of the party in the state to close ranks so that it can grow from strength to strength, Imuse called on those he said were sitting on the fence to come and join the party.

Responding, Pastor  Ize-Iyamu said that the notion that he was joining the APC in Benin City was wrong because he had already done so as required by party regulations at his Ugboko ward in Orhionmwon Local Government Area.

“For those who are in doubt, the moment I made up my mind to join the APC, I went to my ward and I am proud to say I have registered in Ugboko Ward in Orhionmwon Local Government Area,” he said.

He thanked the crowd of supporters for coming to his residence for the event, saying he was confident that his decision to return home to the APC would make the party grow from strength to strength.

He also appreciated his supporters for turning out en masse despite the disappointment of a change of venue.