Hon. Prince Henry Odianosen Okojie, a member of the House of Representatives from Esan North East/South East constituency, has officially withdrawn from the Edo Central Senatorial by-election, changing the game of the race. Okojie, the husband of Nollywood actress Mercy Johnson, provided his confirmation in a phone interview with The Whistler on Monday.
His ambition initially emerged when Senator Monday Okpebholo withdrew to contest the office of governor in Edo. But after extensive consultations, he withdrew.
Two reasons, the lawmaker explained, were responsible for his withdrawal:
- INEC’s Directive – The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has only recently issued a proclamation that incumbent officeholders should not contest mid-term elections, a provision that went directly into effect and bear on his eligibility.
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Cost of Election Burden – Okojie highlighted the enormous cost imposed by elections on political parties and INEC alike, with concerns being raised over the sheer expense of Nigeria’s electoral process.
Speaking about his action, Okojie reaffirmed that politics has never been about personal interest but serving his people.
“I’m doing it for my people. I was even thinking of contesting because the seat became vacant when the now-governor won. I wanted my people and the whole Esan people to benefit from my projects,” he asserted.
“But after due consultation and INEC’s recent pronouncement that sitting office holders should not contest election in the middle of their tenure, I decided to step down.
Furthermore, the cost of holding elections is extremely high. My political aspiration has never been driven by self-interest. It has always been service to my people,” he added.
