The leaders of All the Progressives Congress in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area on Thursday said it has zoned the House of Representatives seat for the Akoko-Edo Federal Constituency to the North.
The decision of the APC leaders may have foreclosed the intention of the Deputy Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Peter Akpatason, to return for the fourth time.
Akpatason is from the South.
The party leaders in the Federal Constituency took the decision during a meeting of the local Government caucus led by Senator Domingo Obende on Thursday.
The decision has dimmed Akpatason’s chances of return to the House if Representatives for the fourth time.
The leaders said in a communique signed by the Party’s Secretary at the Local Government, Chris Ekuafeh, that the decision to zone the position to the North was informed by the fact that the South has had it for 12 years.
The communique copied the Edo North Senatorial leader of the party, Hon Anselm Agbabi, Leader of the party in the zone, Prince Malik Afegbua, Secretary Edo North Senatorial Caucus of the party, Dr. Tony Aiyejina and State Chairman of the party, Col David Imuse ((retd)).
“By the virtue of Article 12:15 of the All Progressives Congress Constitution (as amended), after exhaustive deliberations on the political issues and happenings in Akoko-Edo Local Government, we agreed and resolved as follows:
“The position of the above House of Representatives for Akoko Edo Federal Constituency, having domiciled for 12-years in the South Constituency and in view of the fact that the local government council chairman has remained and will continue to be so for now to remain in the South constituency;
“The leaders resolved and agreed to zone the position of the House of Representatives to the North Constituency and it was so zoned,” the communique read.
The Local Government Secretary of the party, Ekuafeh, urged the National and state working committees of the APC to take a position on the issue of authentic local Government chairman of the party in the area before the forthcoming primaries and the election.
The position of the APC leaders has also threatened the ambition a former
Chief of Staff to Governor Godwin Obaseki, Taiwo Akerele who has also declared for the position.