By DAN Osa-Ogbegie, Esq.
As conversations intensify around the Edo South Senatorial race, one fundamental question must dominate public discourse above noise, emotion, vendetta, and political propaganda: who truly has the competence, experience, electoral strength, and legislative capacity to represent Edo South effectively in the Nigerian Senate?
This election cannot be reduced to gossip, envy, factional bitterness, or the dangerous politics of pulling down those who have distinguished themselves through work and preparation. Edo South is too important for experimentation. The district occupies a strategic position in Edo State politically, economically, intellectually, and historically. Whoever represents it in the Senate must possess not only popularity, but also demonstrable competence, national reach, legislative experience, political maturity, and proven electoral viability.
That is why the candidacy of Engr. Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama stands out powerfully.
At this critical moment in our history, Edo South does not need theatrical politics. It needs tested leadership.
The first question should be simple: who can really do this job?
The Senate is not a village meeting. It is not social media activism. It is not about who shouts the loudest or who gathers the most emotional supporters online. It is a highly technical legislative institution requiring intellect, negotiation capacity, understanding of governance, coalition building, and the ability to navigate national power structures for the benefit of one’s people.
Engr. Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama has already demonstrated that capacity. He has sat in the National Assembly before. He understands legislative procedures. He understands constituency representation. He understands how federal politics works. Most importantly, he understands the developmental needs of Edo South.
That experience matters.
One of the tragedies of Nigerian politics is that many people routinely undervalue competence until they suffer the consequences of electing unprepared individuals. Governance is not learned through slogans. Representation is not mastered through entitlement mentality. Serious legislative work requires exposure, training, discipline, and practical engagement.
Ogbeide-Ihama brings all of that to the table.
The second question should be even more important: who has done it before?
There is a difference between ambition and proven ability. Anybody can desire office. Not everybody has demonstrated the capacity to function effectively within it. Edo South cannot afford political gambling at a time when national economic realities, infrastructural deficits, youth unemployment, and federal competition among regions are becoming fiercer.
We need somebody who can immediately resume work from day one without confusion or apprenticeship.
That is precisely where Ogbeide-Ihama enjoys a massive advantage.
Beyond politics, he possesses educational attainment, professional exposure, and practical work history. In a political environment increasingly populated by career politicians with little verifiable professional accomplishment outside politics, that distinction becomes extremely important. Representation should not merely be about occupying office; it should be about bringing value, intellect, exposure, and strategic thinking into governance.
The third question is brutally practical: who can win elections?
Politics is not conducted inside wishful thinking. Electoral value matters. Political structures matter. Acceptability matters. Grassroots connection matters. A candidate may sound impressive within elite circles and still lack the political strength to win a real election. Just same way some could boast of having structures and people but can not back it up with winning elections.
Ogbeide-Ihama has repeatedly shown electoral viability. He has contested and won before. He understands the terrain. He possesses deep political relationships across Edo South. He has youth appeal, name recognition, and institutional experience. These are not theoretical assets; they are practical political advantages.
Those who dismiss electoral experience often do so until election results arrive.
Then comes perhaps the most inconvenient question for many of his critics: who has won elections before?
Not all criticism is principled. In politics, many attacks are driven by personal disappointments, failed ambitions, unresolved rivalries, and elite anxieties. Edo South people must therefore separate propaganda from substance.
A candidate who has repeatedly tested himself before the electorate and emerged victorious already carries a psychological and structural advantage. Elections are not won by noise alone. They are won through organisation, acceptance, resilience, strategy, and voter confidence.
Ogbeide-Ihama possesses those attributes.
Unfortunately, some of the arguments against him have descended into provincialism and pedestrian politics. The attempt to divide Benin people along artificial internal lines is both intellectually dishonest and historically shallow. Benin people are one people under one cultural civilisation, one revered throne, and one historical destiny.
Historically and ancestrally, every Benin indigene traces roots to the same civilisational nucleus.
Attempts to weaponise local artificial schisms for temporary political advantage diminish the collective strength of Edo South.
Even more hypocritical are those who complain about external political support while secretly seeking endorsements and influence from powerful interests outside Edo State whenever it suits their ambitions. Politics has always involved alliances, consultations, negotiations, and strategic relationships. That is how politics works globally.
The real issue should therefore not be who spoke to whom.
The real issue is simple: who can best represent Edo South?
On the evidence available, Engr. Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama presents himself as one of the strongest, most prepared, and most experienced options before Edo South today.
At this stage of our political development, Edo South must move beyond bitterness, envy, emotional manipulation, and anti-intellectual politics.
The focus must remain on competence.
The focus must remain on experience.
The focus must remain on capacity.
The focus must remain on results.
And above all, the focus must remain on who can truly advance the interests of Edo South in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Daniel Aroren Noah Osa-Ogbegie, Lead Counsel Noah Attorneys ( www.noahattorneys.com) is an APC Leader from Uhunmwode LGA.
