24/03/2026
ROTATION OR DOMINATION? LAMPESE, IMOGA AND THE DELICATE POLITICS OF POWER IN AKOKO-EDO WARD 3
By Theplatformnews Desk
Tuesday, March 24, 2026
“The survival of grassroots democracy depends not just on elections, but on fairness, balance and the willingness of communities to respect political agreements.”
The evolving leadership dynamics in Ward 3 of Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State have once again brought to the forefront the sensitive but critical issue of political rotation, fairness, and inter-community balance.
Recent indications that the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the ward may have conceded the councillorship position to the Imoga community ahead of the next local government elections have sparked renewed conversations among political stakeholders. At the heart of these discussions lies the enduring question of equity, historical precedent, and the sustainability of the informal rotational arrangement that has guided political representation within the ward for decades.
If the current understanding holds, political records suggest that between 1998 and 2026 the Imoga community would have produced three elected councillors in Ward 3, while Lampese would have produced two, with Bekuma and Ekpe producing one each.
For many observers, this development highlights the delicate balancing act required to sustain harmony among the communities that make up the ward. It also underscores the importance of protecting the spirit of cooperation and compromise that has historically shaped political representation in the area.
A Historical Perspective on Representation
Since the return to democratic governance in 1999, Ward 3 has produced several councillors drawn from different communities within the ward. Historical records show that representation has rotated albeit imperfectly among the constituent communities.
Among those who have served as elected councillors are:
Hon. F. S. Uduzeli – PDP (Lampese)
Hon. Bamidele Cyprian Ogogo – PDP (Lampese)
Hon. Paul Ojemu – PDP (Imoga)
Hon. Osmond Lawanson – APC (Imoga)
Hon. Ojo Omole – PDP (Bekuma)
Hon. Everista Ejamah – APC (Ekpe)
Hon. Akande – APC (Bekuma, through by-election; current councillor)
Mr. Ben Obayemi – Councillorship designate, APC (Imoga)
Beyond elected councillors, Ward 3 has also witnessed the service of caretaker officials who played key roles during transitional periods in local governance. These include Hon. Animashaun, Hon. Kenneth Bolaji, Hon. Kelvin Alabi, and caretaker chairmen such as Hon. Peter Ologun, Hon. Anslem Agbabi, and Hon. Jeffery Obasanmi.
Collectively, these individuals have contributed to governance and grassroots political representation in the ward and the local government over the past two decades.
Lampese and Its “Big Brother” Role
Within the political landscape of Ward 3, Lampese has historically been regarded as playing what many stakeholders describe as a “big brother” role. While the precise circumstances behind the reported decision by the ward leadership of the APC to concede the upcoming councillorship slot to Imoga may not be fully clear to all observers, many believe that Lampese’s longstanding disposition toward accommodation and compromise has often helped stabilize political relations within the ward.
Political analysts argue that such gestures have helped preserve peace and mutual respect among the communities. However, they also note that for such arrangements to remain sustainable, goodwill must be reciprocal. When communities make sacrifices for collective stability, such gestures must be acknowledged and reciprocated when circumstances demand. Without such reciprocity, the delicate trust upon which rotational politics rests can gradually erode.
Appeal for Cross-Party Understanding
In light of the current situation, some stakeholders are calling on other political parties operating in the ward—including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), Action Congress (AC), and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to consider zoning their councillorship tickets to the Imoga community for the forthcoming election cycle.
Proponents of this position argue that allowing Imoga to produce the councillor across party lines during this cycle could help consolidate political harmony within the ward.
They believe such a coordinated approach could prevent the type of tensions and political disagreements that have occasionally surfaced in the past. In their view, repeating past missteps may deepen divisions rather than strengthen the long-standing tradition of cooperation among the communities.
The Ogogo Political Controversy
One of the most controversial political episodes in recent years within Ward 3 involved Honourable Bamidele Cyprian Ogogo , who was elected councillor under the banner of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Following the victory of Senator Monday Okpebholo in the Edo State governorship election, reports emerged that councillors elected under the PDP were pressured to defect to the APC in order to retain their seats within what had become an APC-controlled state political structure.
Hon. Ogogo declined to defect, citing principles of integrity, loyalty to his political party, and respect for the mandate given to him by his constituents.
His refusal led to his suspension by the Leader of the Legislative Arm, and the Edo State House of Assembly subsequently declared his seat vacant, alongside that of another councillor from Ward One in Igarra.
Subsequently, the APC candidate from Bekuma, Akande who had finished second in the election, was sworn in to complete the remainder of Ogogo’s tenure through by election.
However, the matter did not end there. Hon. Ogogo, together with his counterpart from Ward One in Igarra and the then Chairman of Akoko-Edo Local Government, Hon Tajudeen Bright Alade , approached the High Court to challenge the legality of the decision.The court ruled in their favour, declaring the action of both the Akoko-Edo Legislative Arm and the Edo State House of Assembly unlawful.
Dissatisfied with the ruling, the Edo State House of Assembly and the sitting chairman of Akoko-Edo Local Government have since filed an appeal against the judgment at the appellate court. The case remains a defining moment in the political history of the ward and the local government, highlighting the tensions that can arise when political loyalty, constitutional rights, and local power dynamics intersect.
The Origin of the Rotational Principle
The zoning principle that guides political representation in Ward 3 was not accidental. Rather, it was deliberately introduced by the ward’s leadership as a mechanism for ensuring fairness among the constituent communities.The rotational understanding began with Bekuma—the smallest community in the ward as the first beneficiary of the arrangement. The late Hon. Obaro from Bekuma was among the earliest beneficiaries of this political consensus.
Over time, the arrangement gained wider acceptance and gradually evolved into an informal but respected political tradition within the ward. Its influence eventually extended beyond Ward 3, shaping broader zoning practices across Akoko-Edo Local Government Area.
Disruptions to the Gentleman’s Agreement
Despite its noble intentions, political stakeholders argue that the zoning principle has faced significant disruptions over the past two decades at both ward and local government levels.
Some communities—including Imoga, Ekpe, and Bekuma have disrupted the arrangement at different times. These disruptions, analysts say, have contributed to the current imbalance.
While Imoga would be producing the councillor for the third time if the present arrangement stands, Ekpe has produced only one councillor—Hon. Everista Ejamah since 1998 that local government election began.
In the case of Lampese, stakeholders say, has largely remained consistent in respecting the rotational understanding, though there have been moments of tension. Nonetheless, voices from the community have often emerged to defend the principle of fairness and insist on adherence to the agreed rotation.
A Moment for Political Rebalancing
At the broader local government level, similar concerns about imbalance have also surfaced. For instance, the House of Representatives seat has been held for about sixteen consecutive years by Rt. Hon. Peter Ohio Akpatason. Likewise, the chairmanship of Akoko-Edo Local Government was occupied consecutively for five years by Hon. Don Umoru Orteh and Hon. Tajudeen Bright Alade—both from the southern constituency.
Additionally, the two commissionership positions recently appointed from Akoko-Edo—Barr. Bisi Idaomi (Humanitarian Affairs) and Prof. Roland Itoya Otaru (Justice) also come from the southern constituency. According to some stakeholders, these developments have created perceptions of political imbalance within the local government’s broader power-sharing framework.
However, the political equation began to shift following the suspension of Hon. Tajudeen Bright Alade, which led to Hon. Alabliss Oshionogue stepping in as Acting Chairman. Within this context, the endorsement of Hon. Robert Akande from Ogugu as council chairman-designate has been interpreted by supporters as recognition of loyalty and consistency within the northern constituency.
A Call for Political Wisdom
Ultimately, the present moment offers political actors across party lines an opportunity to demonstrate maturity, foresight, and a genuine commitment to fairness. Allowing the Imoga community to produce the councillor in the forthcoming election cycle could help stabilize the political environment in Ward 3 and reinforce the credibility of the rotational arrangement.
More importantly, it would strengthen the culture of trust and cooperation that has long defined political relations among the communities in the ward.
At its core, the strength of Ward 3 lies in the ability of its communities to manage political competition without sacrificing unity.
As Akoko-Edo continues to navigate its evolving political landscape, preserving the principles of fairness, mutual respect, and balanced representation that originally gave birth to the zoning arrangement may remain the most reliable pathway to lasting peace, unity, and grassroots development.
