Edo Central demands zoning of 2024 governorship ticket  

Several groups in Esan land in Edo State have risen to demand for the zoning of the governorship ticket to Edo Central Senatorial District for the 2024 governorship election.

Among the groups, Esan New Era, the Esan Assembly, among others, are collectively demanding that the other two senatorial districts in the state, Edo North and Edo South, should concede the governorship contest Edo Central, arguing that the senatorial district has not produced a governor in the state since 1999. Leaders of the group noted that they have supported the other two districts, Edo North and Edo South, in producing governors in the state over the years.

The leaders urged Governor Godwin Obaseki to support the zoning of the governorship ticket for the 2024 election in the state to Edo Central for justice and equity. They reminded Governor Obaseki that it was in the spirit of justice and equity that former Governor Adams Oshiomhole nominated and supported him to succeed him after his second tenure.

It was gathered that the Esan Okpa Initiative (EOI), the umbrella socio-cultural organisation, setting out an agenda to consolidate lobby for power rotation to Esan land, constituted a 24-man Mobilisation and Contact Committee to negotiate with stakeholders in other zones.
The Public Relations Officer of the Esan Okpa Initiative (EOI), Tony Iyare, disclosed that the committee is headed by the first Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mathew Egbadon, adding that the committee include former Governor Oserheimen Osunbor of Edo State, a renowned businessman, Chief Leemon Ikpea; former President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Peter Esele; a retired Army General, Cecil Esekhaigbe; former President of the Association of Esan Professionals (AEP), Efe Akhigbe; former Special Adviser to Governor Godwin Obaseki on Post Primary Education, Dr. Roseline Etiti Okosun; as well as Tony Iyare, former Special Adviser and Media and Publicity to former Governor Adams Oshiomhole, etc.

Members of the committee have the mandate to negotiate with stakeholders in Edo North and South Senatorial Districts, including leaders of the major political parties in the country, essentially, the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the Labour Party (LP), seeking their endorsement of governorship candidates from Edo Central in 2024.

The stakeholders from Edo Central predicate their argument and demand on the narrative that Edo South senatorial district has been represented by former Governor Lucky Igbinedion for 8 years, noting that the the zone also has Governor Godwin Obaseki, who will be completing 8 years in 2024, giving Edo South 16 years governorship seat in the state. They argued that Edo North was represented by former Governor Adams Oshiomhole for 8 years, noting that Edo Central had an opportunity that was cut off by crisis when Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor, representing Edo Central was brief in office for 18 months, before he was removed.

National Daily gathered that the Esan Assembly under the aegis of the Esan Okpa Initiative (EOI), had constituted a six-man sub-committee headed by a Constitutional Law Scholar, Prof Mike Ikhariale, that provided the roadmap for the lobby for zoning of the governorships ticket to Edo Central, as well as qualifications of aspirants to be supported for the governorship race. Members of the sub-committee constituted by Political and Strategy Committee of the EOI, were identified to include Prof. Friday Okonofua, Prof. Ekeikhomen Ejele, Prof. Sylvester Odion-Akhaine, Dr. Roseline Etiti Okosun and Dr. Onoohomen Ebhohimhen.