Ize-Iyamu defeated Osaro Obazee, and Pius Odubu in the party's primary election which took place on Monday, June 22.

Thousands of registered APC members across the state participated in the direct election which produced the party's flag bearer.

Chairman of the election committee and Imo State governor, Hope Uzodinma, announced after the exercise that Ize-Iyamu won with 27,838 total votes cast in his favour.

Odubu ended with 3,776, while Obazee ended the contest with 2,324 votes.

"Iyamu having scored highest in the primary election is hereby returned candidate of the APC in the coming governorship election," Uzodinma said.

The Imo governor noted that the primary election was a formality because Odubu and Obazee had already stepped down for Ize-Iyamu.

He also expressed confidence that the state will return to the party after the September election.

Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki, last week dumped the APC for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after he was disqualified from participating in Monday's primary election due to alleged inconsistencies in his tendered documents.

Obaseki's exit was the climax of his battle for control of the state with his predecessor and currently-suspended APC national chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, who opposed his second term ambition.

The governor is expected to win the PDP's ticket during the party's primary election on Thursday, June 25, pitting him against Ize-Iyamu once again.

Ize-Iyamu had contested the 2016 governorship election on the platform of the PDP and lost to Obaseki.