By Ozioruva Aliu

BENIN CITY – THE leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo South Senatorial District has urged all aspirants seeking the party’s ticket for next year’s general election to ensure that their campaigns are based on issues and not personal attacks.

This advice was given yesterday at the residence of the former Deputy Governor of the state who is the leader of the party in the district, Hon Pius Odubu when the Senator representing Edo South, Neda Imasuen officially declared his intention for a second term bid in the red chamber.

Supported several notable leaders including the State Secretary of the party, Lawrence Okah, Sen, Matthew Uroghide, Hon Razaq Belo-Osagie, Hon Osaro Obazee, Gentleman Amegor among several others, Odubu said after all the bickering if they did not heed the advice, they would either win or lose the ticket which he said are the only available options for them.

“I appeal to all of you to tell us what you will do, let us not cast aspersions on anyone because at the end of the day, it is either you win or you lose.”

Declaring his intention for a second term in the senate, Imasuen said his going back would make him a ranking senator which would bring added privileges and opportunities for him to do more for the people.

He said “The Senate is the highest lawmaking body in the country. We are only 109 senators. And it’s a body that’s composed of who is who in Nigeria so it is not a place for a starter.

“As far as I am concerned, we are in a period now where we have to have a ranking senator because each of the three senatorial districts, whether we agree or not, competes against one another.

“We will be shortchanging ourselves when the Edo north is sending their senator back to rank, Edo Central is sending its senator back to rank and Edo South would say they want to send a fresher? He is just going to be at the sideline and watch things happen and he cannot influence. So it is in our own interest to send a ranking senator.

“Edo South controls more than 50 percent of the votes of the entire state so the area deserves to be ranked. Like the scorecard I have given, I haven’t gone there to warm the bench. I can unarguably say that you cannot go to the Senate and don’t know who Neda is. I chair one of the most sensitive committees in the chambers in the Senate. And with that I have had public national exposure. Thank God I am also close to the leadership so going back to rank is an added advantage to this.

“I appeal to you to put sentiments aside, let us do things in accordance to what will benefit us as Edo South Central District.”

He said hr esas privileged to chair a committee as a first timer because more than 70 of the former members did not return in 2023.