Feb. 9, 2022

A group of youths operating under the aegis of Young Edo Professionals in Politics, have demanded equity, justice and fairness in the zoning of political offices in Edo.

Spokesman of the group, Endurance Eguasa, said at its meeting in Benin on Wednesday that come 2023, the Edo South Senatorial seat should be zoned to one of the seven local governments in the district outside Oredo Council Area.

“It is instructive to note that both the sitting senator of Edo South, Matthew Urhoghide and Gov. Godwin Obaseki are from Oredo Local Government Area.

“More disturbing is the fact that Urhoghide is from Ward 2 in Oredo Council Area, the same ward that produced the sitting member of the House of Representatives for Oredo Federal Constituency.

“We are saying that Oredo cannot keep the senate beyond 2023.

“The reason is that Edo South senatorial district historically sat on a tripod made up of the defunct Oredo, Orhionmwon and Ovia Divisions.

“Therefore, the Senate seat must rotate amongst the triumvirate,’’ he argued.

Eguasa recalled that between 1999 and 2007, the senator for Edo South was produced by the old Orhionwmon after which it moved to old Ovia from 2007 to 2015 and old Oredo from 2015 till date.

“Justice, fairness and equity dictate that it moves back to old Orhionmwon, especially because from 2016 till date, Oredo has simultaneously held both positions of governor and senator for Edo South.

“Most instructively, by 2023/2024 the old Oredo would have produced the governor for 16 years.

“It has produced the senator for Edo South for eight years and enjoyed a non-rotational, permanent House of Representatives seat for 24 years,’’ he further argued.

Eguasa said zoning the senate again to the Oredo Council Area for the 2023 general elections would amount to disenfranchisement of the other six local government areas that made up the senatorial district.

In his contribution, leader of the group, Victory Osadolor, demanded that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), especially, to zone the senatorial ticket for Edo South in the 2023 election to old Orhionmwon.

“This position is supported by Section 7 sub-section 3 (C) of the PDP Constitution which enshrines the principle of zoning of both party and elective offices.

“Other political parties are enjoined to emulate the PDP in enshrining zoning and rotation of all elective offices,’’ he said. (NAN)