Prince Joe Okojie Clinches PDP Senate Ticket for Edo Central By-Election

Prince Joe Okojie, former Commissioner and Special Adviser on Agriculture and Food Security, has been elected as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the Edo Central Senatorial by-election set for August 16, 2025.

Okojie emerged victorious in a tightly contested primary held on Monday, July 21, 2025, in Ubiaja, Esan South-East Local Government Area. He triumphed over other contenders, including John Yakubu, a former Chairman of Esan North-East Local Government Council, and Friday Itulah, an ex-member of the House of Representatives for Esan South-East/Esan North-East Federal Constituency.

In a related development, the PDP has also chosen Johnny Aikpitanyi as its consensus candidate for the Ovia Federal Constituency by-election. Aikpitanyi, being the sole aspirant screened and cleared, was declared unopposed after the exercise conducted at the party’s state secretariat in Benin City.

Confirming the outcome, Chris Nehikhare, Publicity Secretary of the PDP Caretaker Committee in Edo State, stated that the party successfully concluded the screening and primary elections in both constituencies.