By DADA. AYOKHAI
AKOKO EDO, EDO NORTH – Five prominent candidates on different political platforms will contest for the Akoko Edo Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives in the January 2027 National Assembly election.
The election will be the first in the constituency where an incumbent will not be on the ballot since 1999.
The incumbent, Hon. Peter Akpatason, has stepped down from seeking a fifth term and has thrown his weight behind the APC preferred candidate, Hon. Bankole Balogun.
Balogun, who until recently was Chairman of the Edo State Internal Revenue Board, was the PDP candidate in the last two elections where he lost to Akpatason.
He has since defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Other candidates in the race are:
Johnson Afagason – African Democratic Congress, ADC. A former front-runner for the APC ticket in 2023 who was asked to step down for Akpatason. In the 2026 APC primaries, he was again asked to step down for defector Balogun. His refusal led to his defection to the ADC, where he will be flying the party’s flag.
Hon. Aanena Elizabeth Jemitola, the only female candidate in the race is vying on the PDP platform,
A prominent politician and public servant from Ososo in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area, served as the Edo State Commissioner for Arts, Culture, and Tourism (2009–2013) and Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development (2013–2016) under Governor Adams Oshiomhole. [
Rasak Obaro – National Democratic Congress, NDC. A fresh face and popular grassroots politician.
Dr. Thomas Atta – National Democratic Party, NDP. A complete new face in Akoko Edo politics.
Political pundits say all five aspirants have an equal chance of winning, but the contest is expected to be keenly watched with focus on Afagason of the ADC and Atta of the NDP due to their strong local structures.
