The Akoko-Edo and Owan-Alliance socio-cultural groups, on Friday, rejected the unfair and inequitable dominance of Etsako over Akoko-Edo and Owan people as exemplified in the apparent zonal capture of access to the position of the Senate seat for the zone.

Recall that the members of the groups desirous of engendering a meeting of minds across the two neighbouring Federal Constituencies of Akoko-Edo and Owan had vowed to unseat the incumbent Senator Adams Oshiomhole representing Edo North Senatorial District in 2027.

They argued that the Edo North slot for 2027 should expectedly go to the Owan or Akoko-Edo people who have been denied the senatorial seat severally having only had a mere 15 per cent representation in the Senate since 1960.

The groups under the auspices of Owan Alliance and Akoko-Edo nations led by their leaders, Elder Steve Imoudu, Richard Ofen-Imu, Mr. Jerry Osamaye Alegbe, Richard Ehimigbai, Dr. Victoria Amu, Prof. Bamidele Sanni and Omeiza Ogumah spoke for Owan Nation and Akoko-Edo blocs.

The leaders said that these two federal constituencies, with a population of over 2.5 million spread nationwide, have suffered gross marginalisation in the democratic dividends accruing to Edo North Senatorial District.

They noted that the challenges before them are not unconnected with the gross marginalisation by the Estako people, which has brought about high under-development to Akoko-Edo and Owan people.

The leaders said the two federal constituencies hold a voting strength of over 324,907, citing the August 2024 INEC Register, They vowed to be united in their efforts and commitments to wrestle power from the Etsako bloc necessitated by the alleged gross marginalisation in the distribution of democratic dividends accruing to Edo North.

“This unity of purpose is necessitated by our twin fate of gross marginalisation in democratic dividends accruing to Edo North Senatorial District, which has brought about high under-development to Akoko-Edo and Owan people,” they said.