As the Edo governorship election draws near, a governorship aspirant and member representing Etsako Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Anamero Dekeri, has called on people of the state to look beyond zoning and elect leaders based merit and competence.

Addressing journalists in Abuja Thursday, the aspirant contesting on the platform All Progressives Congress (APC), pointed out that zoning breeds incompetence.

The federal lawmaker who hails from Edo North also explained that Edo North has been shortchanged among the three senatorial zones in the state.

According to Dekiri, while Edo Central has produced two democratically elected governors since the creation of the state, Edo South has ruled the state four times as against once by Edo North.

He said: “It is high time Nigerians began to see beyond leadership of turn by turn because in my view, it breeds incompetence and once an individual begins to have a sense of entitlement, it could bring out the worst of that human.

“We should be looking at a nation or state where we enthrone leaders on the strength of competence, commitment and the will to lead”.

He promised to prioritize the welfare of the people if given the mandate to govern the people.

Also, ahead of the February 22, 2024 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary election in Edo State, Edo Central Senatorial District has endorsed Dr. Asue Ighodalo as its sole aspirant for the election. 
  
The decision was contained in a statement issued by the senatorial caucus, yesterday, in Uromi, the headquarters of Esan North-East Local Council of the state, following the official presentation of the Edo Central PDP Special Committee Report, Chaired by the party’s National Leader, Tom Ikimi. 
 
According to the statement signed by Archbishop Anthony Okosun, the Senatorial Caucus Chairman and two others, the adoption of Ighodalo is without prejudice to the right of any other aspirant to pursue his/her aspiration for the election. 
  
Meanwhile, a governorship aspirant on the platform of the Labour Party (LP) in Edo State, Ogbemudia Bassey Osagie, has cautioned the party to give all aspirants a level playing ground, threatening to personally hold the party executive accountable should the primary be skewed in favour of a particular aspirant. 
  
He expressed disappointment that some money bag politicians in the party have allegedly hijacked the party by doling out cash gifts and vehicles to LP officials.