Edo LG poll: North Ivie insists on producing next Etsako East chair, cites years of marginalisation

As preparations build up for the 2026 local government elections in Edo State, a socio-political group under the banner of North Ivie People’s Voice has declared that the demand for the chairmanship position of Etsako East Local Government Area to be zoned to the North Ivie axis is unanimous among the people.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the group urged political parties to uphold principles of fairness and justice by zoning the chairmanship seat to the area, which it said had long been sidelined in elective  positions in the local government.

“The people of Ivie, both young and old, are united in one voice — the time has come for equity, fairness, and justice to prevail,” the statement read.

According to the group, since the return of democratic rule in 1999, the Ivie zone has only held the council’s top seat for one year and three months through Hon. Benedicta Attoh, who was later removed from office.

“This undeniable fact shows the marginalisation Ivie has endured over the years, not just at the local government level but also in state political appointments,” the group stated.

It appealed to political leaders and stakeholders across Etsako East to correct what it described as a historical imbalance by ensuring the next council chairman emerges from the Ivie zone.

“This is not merely a demand; it is a call for justice and inclusion. Our goal is to build a stronger and more united Etsako East where every zone has a sense of belonging,” the statement continued.

The group further encouraged qualified sons and daughters of Ivie to step forward and declare their intentions to contest the chairmanship position, insisting that “when fairness is upheld, peace and development will follow.”