Barrister Washington Osifo has resigned as Edo State Commissioner for Water Resources and Sanitation to pursue his ambition of representing Orhionmwon/Uhumwonde Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.
His resignation comes just hours after the Secretary to the Edo State Government, Umar Musa Ikhilor, issued a directive compelling all public servants, political appointees, and government functionaries seeking elective positions to step down on or before March 1, 2026, as a condition for participating in party primaries and the wider electoral process.
Osifo’s swift compliance has been interpreted as both a strategic move and a clear declaration of intent to join the race, signalling the start of what is expected to be a keenly contested battle for the federal seat.
He is widely tipped to challenge the incumbent lawmaker, Chief Billy Osawaru, who is said to be positioning for a second term in office, setting the stage for a high-stakes political contest in the constituency.
