By SIMON EBEGBULEM
BENIN CITY— Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, in Edo State, has urged factional leaders in the crisis rocking the party over the issue of the deputy governorship ticket to sheathe their sword  and allow for the amicable settlement of the issues.

At a meeting hosted by former Foreign Affairs Minister, Chief Tom Ikimi, factional leaders presented their cases as regards the choice of  Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s running mate for the July, 14, 2012 governorship election.

At the meeting were Oshiomhole, his deputy Dr. Pius Odubu, South South Vice-Chairman of the ACN, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Chief of Staff, Osaradion Ogie, Prince Eweka, Special Adviser to the Governor on Political Matters, Charles Idahosa and others.

It will be recalled that the faction led by Ize-Iyamu had rejected the choice of Odubu as running mate to Oshiomhole.  This led to the suspension of Odubu by members of the party in Urhonigbe South ward 8, in Orhionmwon Local Government Area of the state, led by the ward chairman, Mr Sunday Aibueku. Ize-Iyamu, though was not at the meeting where Odubu was suspended, but this  had been faulted by loyalists to the governor.

Vanguard gathered that Odubu said he would abide by the decision of the leaders of the party on the issue of deputy governor, as it was not a do or die matter. On his part, Ize-Iyamu was said to have justified his rejection of Odubu and urged party leaders to take the best decision on the matter

Oshiomhole and Ikimi appealed for calm and urged the warring leaders to be calm as the leadership of the party would take a decision at the appropriate time so  as to avoid disunity in the party.