By Eben Enasco Kingsley, Benin city
Prince Odianosen Okojie, husband to Nollywood actress Mercy Johnson was on Monday ditched for former Esan North East Local Government Area Chairman Hon John Yakubu as the running mate to the People’s Democratic Party, PDP candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.
Okojie who was said to have contributed en masse to the sustainance of the party over the years was warming up to occupy the position when a decision to chose John Yakubu was drastically taken at the Residence of the Former Board of Trustee Chairman of the PDP, Chief Tony Anenih.
Okojie has however protested the process of picking Yakubu, as the PDP who had earlier zoned the running mate of its governorship candidate to Edo Central Senatorial district made a U-turn on Okojie, who had earlier been tipped for the position.
Apparently investigations has confirmed that some party leaders moved for Yakubu, as they believed he (Okojie) didn’t carry enough weight and support of the people for the party to win the September 10 polls and couldn’t appease leaders of the party.
A meeting largely attended by Hon Friday Itulah, Hon Akhere Ugbesia, Hon Felix Akhabue, Barrister (Mrs) Philomena Ihenyen, Felix Imoesili, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu; Edo State chairman of the PDP, Dan Orbih and leaders of the party across the three senatorial zones was where the consensus agreement was reached to pick Yakubu as running mate as majority of the leaders of the party endorsed his candidacy, before he was unveiled at the Baptist Convention ground.
