BREAKING: Imasuen Rejects ‘Passive Senator’ Label, Cites Strong Network And Experience

According to report by Nigerian Tribune on Sunday, April 26, 2026, Neda Imasuen, the Senator representing Edo South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, has called on leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the district to follow the example of their counterparts in Edo Central and Edo North by giving him another ticket to the Senate.

He made the appeal while meeting with party leaders in Benin City, the Edo State capital, where he officially announced his intention to seek re-election.

The lawmaker said his return would help preserve continuity in representation and improve the district’s standing in the upper chamber.

Imasuen explained that the two other senatorial districts in Edo State had already agreed to retain their current senators, a decision he described as one that would protect institutional memory and strengthen their presence in the National Assembly.

He said such an arrangement was important because serving senators already have an established understanding of legislative procedures, relationships and influence, all of which can be used to secure better outcomes for their people.

He added that if incumbent lawmakers were returned to office, they would automatically become ranking members, a status that he said carries practical benefits in the Senate.

According to him, ranking legislators are better positioned to attract development projects, protect local interests and speak more effectively on behalf of their constituencies.

He said Edo South should not allow itself to be placed at a disadvantage when other senatorial districts were already making moves to preserve their own legislative strength.

The senator also described the Senate as an exclusive lawmaking institution made up of 109 members, stressing that it is not a chamber for people who are just beginning to learn the process.

He said new members often spend valuable time adjusting to the rules, culture and demands of the institution, time that experienced legislators have already spent.

In his view, this makes continuity an important factor for any district that wants to maximize its representation at the federal level.

Imasuen further pointed to his own experience in the National Assembly, saying he currently heads one of the Senate’s sensitive committees.

He said the position had given him wider exposure, access to national leadership and a deeper understanding of how the chamber operates.

He maintained that these advantages would become even more useful if he were returned for another term, as he would be able to build on the progress already made rather than starting from the beginning again.

He said his appeal was not based on personal interest alone, but on what he believed would best serve the long-term political and developmental interests of Edo South.

The senator urged party leaders to set aside sentiment and focus on the larger picture, insisting that retaining a sitting lawmaker could strengthen the district’s voice and improve its chances of benefiting from legislative opportunities.

“I did not go there to warm the bench. I have built relationships, I understand the system, and I have a voice that is heard,” he said, urging party leaders to put aside sentiments in the overall interest of the district.