The North Ivie constituency covering Imiegba, Itsukwi, Imiakebu, and Okpekpe communities has appealed on political stakeholders to zone the position of Etsako East Local Government chairman to the constituency ahead of the 2026 Edo State local government election.
The zone argued that despite being a loyal supporter of successive administrations since Nigeria returned to democracy in 1999, it has only produced the council chairman once for over one year.
North Ivie People’s Voice convener, Abdullahi Shaibu, made the request in a statement in Abuja on Saturday, appealing to political leaders to reward the region’s loyalty and commitment by vacating the seat for them.
Captioned “Etsako East LGA Election: North Ivie Zone is Unanimous in its Chairmanship Demands,” the statement emphasized that the appeal is the popular consensus of the populace.
“Both the old and the youth of Ivie are speaking in one voice the time is now for fairness, justice, and equity. Since 1999, the zone has occupied the chairmanship position for just one year and three months through our daughter, Hon. Benedicta Attoh, who was later voted out of office,” the statement added.
Shaibu lamented that the North Ivie area has been politically excluded at both local government and state levels even though it is a very formidable APC stronghold and voted enormously for Senator Monday Okpebholo in the last governorship election.
Shaibu urged political leaders in Etsako East to turn the age-long imbalance around, adding that the appeal is not so much for representation but for inclusiveness and unity.
“This is about building a stronger, more united, and more equitable Etsako East where the sense of belonging is felt in all the zones,” Shaibu stated, calling on the qualified sons and daughters of Ivie to emerge and declare their intention to contest the chairmanship seat.
