Abraka Constituency Restoration Will End Marginalisation, Bring More Development To Ethiope East –Akpowowo

The Deputy Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly and Member representing Ethiope East Constituency, Rt. Hon. Olorogun Arthur Akpowowo, has welcomed the restoration of the Abraka State Constituency, describing the development as a long-awaited resolution that will end complaints of marginalisation and bring more development to Ethiope East.

Akpowowo stated this in an exclusive interview with Oasis Magazine on Thursday in Eku, where he reflected on the historical struggle for the restoration of the constituency and its implications for the people of Ethiope East.

The Deputy Speaker disclosed that he could not attend the recent stakeholders’ meeting on the issue because he had travelled to the United Kingdom for overseas training.

He, however, said he had followed the struggle closely, tracing his personal involvement to 2012 and particularly 2015, when he challenged the issue at the election tribunal after the 2015 State House of Assembly election.

Akpowowo said he had argued at the tribunal that there should be an Abraka Constituency, pointing out that the Federal High Court in Warri had previously delivered a judgment directing that the constituency be restored.

He said INEC, for reasons best known to the commission, did not implement the judgment at the time, until the recent process initiated through the National Assembly and subsequent steps towards restoring the constituency.

‘We Have Always Had Two Constituencies’

Akpowowo said the history of political representation in the area showed that Ethiope East had previously had two separate constituencies.

“I’ve always known that we have two constituencies in this local government,” Akpowowo said.

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He explained that the absence of a separate Abraka Constituency meant that the legislator representing the area had been carrying the responsibilities of two constituencies under one mandate.

Ethiope East has 11 wards, he noted, making it difficult to spread constituency interventions across the entire area within a four-year tenure.

“You know, like I told you, if I have one school renovation in a year, it means I have to be in the House of Assembly for 11 years to touch the 11 wards,” he explained.

‘Abraka Agitation for Marginalisation Will End’

With the restoration of the separate constituency, Akpowowo said he was “super excited” that the long-standing agitation by the people of Abraka over perceived marginalisation would come to an end.

He said the new arrangement would allow the Agbon and Abraka areas to have separate elected representatives who can focus more directly on the needs of their respective communities.

“So now, I am restricted to eight wards of Agbon, which is still large anyway, but smaller than 11 wards,” he said.

“I’m happy, I’m super excited that Abraka agitation for marginalization will end with this one. They will no longer complain of marginalization.”

He added: “Now they have their House of Assembly, we have our own.”

‘It’s a Win-Win for Ethiope East’

Akpowowo described the development as a win-win situation for Ethiope East, saying the creation of separate representation would increase the number of constituency development interventions available to the local government.

He disclosed that his younger brother, Hon. Felix Erhiemedafe, is the candidate on the other side of the newly restored constituency.

“It’s a win-win for us,” he said.

According to Akpowowo, the new arrangement means Ethiope East will now have two members of the State House of Assembly, providing two legislative voices and two streams of constituency interventions annually.

“We are going to now have two constituency projects in Ethiope East on a yearly basis, instead of having one. We’re still going to have two members, we’re going to have two voices. So, it’s a good thing for Ethiope East,” he said.

More Focused Representation

The Deputy Speaker said the restructuring would make representation more focused, as each lawmaker would now have a smaller geographical and administrative area to cover.

He maintained that the development should not be viewed through the lens of rivalry or division, but as an opportunity for both Abraka and Agbon to receive more focused attention and development.

Akpowowo said the restoration of Abraka Constituency represented the resolution of a longstanding issue and expressed satisfaction that the people of Abraka would now have a dedicated representative at the State House of Assembly.

He added that the development would ultimately strengthen grassroots representation and increase opportunities for infrastructure and other constituency projects across Ethiope East.