PDP bye-election candidates emerge in Edo as Joe Okojie and Johnny Aikpitanyi secure tickets for Senate and House seats ahead of August 16 National Assembly polls

PDP bye-election candidates emerge in Edo State ahead of the August 16 National Assembly polls, with Joe Okojie and Johnny Aikpitanyi confirmed as flagbearers.

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Okojie secured the party’s senatorial ticket for Edo Central after winning the PDP primary held in Ubiaja, Esan South East. He polled 84 votes, defeating Hon. John Yakubu who got 52 votes and Friday Itulah who received 21 votes. A total of 157 out of 158 delegates participated, with no void votes recorded.

In his post-election remarks, Okojie thanked delegates and fellow aspirants for their support. He pledged to work closely with party members to secure victory in the forthcoming by-election.

“I am deeply grateful to the delegates and my co-contestants. We must now unite as one party to win this election,” he said.

In Ovia Federal Constituency, Johnny Aikpitanyi was unanimously endorsed by delegates in a primary held at Iguobazuwa, Ovia South-West. He was the sole aspirant and was confirmed as PDP’s candidate.

“Emerging as your candidate is not just an honour, it is a solemn responsibility I embrace with every sense of duty, humility, and commitment,” Aikpitanyi said. “Let us now come together, stronger than ever, to win the by-election and build the Ovia of our dreams.”

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The Edo Central Senate seat became vacant after Monday Okpebholo’s victory in the 2024 governorship election, while the Ovia seat opened following Deputy Governor Dennis Idahosa’s transition to the state executive.