As the jostling for National Assembly ticket gathers momentum, a respected political opinion moulder and analyst Prof. Asemota Abel Ekhorutomwen, has called on stakeholders in the Orhionmwon/Uhunmwonde Federal Constituency of Edo State to respect the long standing rotational arrangement between the two local government areas by allowing Hon. Billy Famous Adesuwa Osawaru to seek and complete a second term in the House of Representatives.
Prof. Ekhorutomwen said the constituency has historically maintained political stability through an informal but widely respected power-sharing agreement that rotates the House of Representatives seat between Orhionmwon and Uhunmwonde Local Government Areas, with each enjoying two terms spanning eight years.
According to him, the understanding has helped promote inclusiveness and prevent political domination by any single section of the constituency.
“Across democratic systems, stability is strengthened when agreements are honoured. The rotational understanding between Orhionmwon and Uhunmwonde has been a stabilising factor for the constituency for many years,” he said.
The political analyst noted that the arrangement was respected when Orhionmwon previously held the seat for two terms, adding that fairness demands that Uhunmwonde be allowed to complete its own eight-year cycle through Hon. Billy Osawaru, who is currently serving his first term.
He said, “Justice demands consistency. When Orhionmwon held the seat, the agreement was respected and it completed its eight-year tenure. The same fairness must now be extended to Uhunmwonde. Hon. Billy Osawaru has only served one term, and any attempt to truncate that cycle would undermine the foundation of the rotational understanding.”
He further argued that beyond the issue of equity, continuity in representation would strengthen the constituency’s voice in the National Assembly.
He noted that legislative influence and effectiveness often improve with experience, particularly for lawmakers who have begun to build relationships within committees and policy networks.
Ekhorutomwen pointed out that Osawaru, who is seeking the ticket of the All Progressives Congress, APC, for a second term, currently serves as Vice Chairman of the House Committee on Poverty Alleviation, a position he said places the lawmaker in a strategic role to contribute to policies addressing economic hardship and social vulnerability.
“Hon. Billy Osawaru has demonstrated active legislative engagement and has initiated efforts that touch on agricultural education and rural economic development, which are critical to communities in the constituency,” he said, adding that allowing him to complete a second term would consolidate those efforts.
He therefore urged political leaders and party stakeholders to uphold the rotational agreement and support Osawaru’s bid for a second term under the APC.
“Politics thrives on trust and respect for commitments. Allowing Hon. Billy Osawaru to complete Uhunmwonde’s turn is not just about personal ambition; it is about preserving fairness, stability and the credibility of the constituency’s long-standing agreement,” he added.
