By Austen Akhagbeme

The renowned Edo State grassroots politician, philanthropist and televangelist, Dr Azemhe Azena has emerged as the flag bearer for the New Nigeria People’s Party, NNPP, in the upcoming gubernatorial election.

With 211 votes, the ebullient Pastor secured the NNPP ticket in a tense exercise held in Benin on Friday.

Dr Azemhe’s declaration as the winner by the primary election committee which has the former Ogun state NNPP Governorship candidate, Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo as secretary, brought jubilation that resonated across the state.

Peter Okoeguale, who came second in the keenly contested primary election which was held at the Depraisery event centre on Ugbor Road, Benin-city polled 100 votes.

Rev Sebastian Iyere and Balogun Engeyemhe polled 25 votes and 17 votes respectively.

Dr Azemhe Azena who was until recently, a chieftain of the Labour Party and the first to declare his governorship ambition in LP, is very popular especially among the youth population in Edo state.

He is the Regional Pastor of Omega Fire Ministry South-South Region and hails from Okpekpe, Etsako-East in the Edo North senatorial zone.