President Muhammadu Buhari has endorsed the candidature of Osagie Ize-Iyamu for the September 19 governorship election in Edo state.

Buhari met with Ize-Iyamu, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on Friday.

The governorship candidate was led to the meeting by Mai Mala Buni, governor of Yobe, who is also the chairman of APC caretaker committee.

The president presented the party’s flag to the APC candidate in the presence of Abdullahi Ganduje, governor of Kano state, and Atiku Bagudu, governor of Kebbi, who accompanied Ize-Iyamu to the villa.

Speaking with journalists, Ize-Iyamu dismissed the rumour that 12 lawmakers of the Edo assembly, who took their oath of office and elected a factional speaker on Thursday, did so at his residence.

“Let me debunk the statement that 17 members of the state house of assembly sat in my sitting room, it is not true,” he said.

On his part, Ganduje described Godwin Obaseki, governor of Edo and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, as a liability to the PDP, saying his poor record will give the APC a landslide victory in the election.

“I can assure you that Governor Obaseki is a liability to the PDP. I can assure you that we are contesting against a governor who has failed most woefully,” Ganduje said.

Bagudu, who is the chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, said all APC governors are behind Ize-Iyamu, adding that they have been working to ensure his success just like they did for Obaseki in 2016.