A member of the Edo State House of Assembly, Mr Henry Okhuarobo (Ikpoba Okha Constituency) has won the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) House of Representatives Primary bye-election for (Egor/Ikpoba Okha Federal House of Representatives and State Assembly elections respectively) following the sudden death of Mr Jude Ise-Idehen.
Ise-Idehen, who belonged to Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki’s faction of the main opposition party won the parallel primary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) last May 22 but died on July 1 in Abuja.
The victory of Okhuarobo comes amidst a series of legal challenges between the supporters of the two rival camps of Obaseki and the party’s South-South zonal national vice chairman, Chief Dan Orbih as to who is the authentic candidate of the party.
The winner polled 54 votes to emerge winner in the bye-election which was held Thursday in Benin City.
Elated, Okhuarobo, thanked the PDP family for the opportunity to serve, praying for the eternal repose of the soul of late Ise-Idehen.
He said: “We must appreciate Almighty God who made this possible and at the same time, pray that the soul of the gentleman who initially won the party ticket rests in peace.
“I thank God for the opportunity that I have been offered by my constituents in Egor and Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Areas to represent them at the National Assembly, especially the PDP family.
“I am indeed grateful for the opportunity and I will put the interest of the Edo people first at all times. I will do my absolute best to ensure that the fortunes of Edo are improved.”
Also, Mr Nicholas Asonsere won the party’s ticket for Ikpoba Okha in the House of Assembly with 28 votes following the withdrawal of Okhuarobo who had earlier emerged as the factional candidate in the parallel primary.
