By Our Correspondent, Esan
Accord Party senatorial candidate for Edo Central, Comrade Kennedy Iyere, has rejected what he described as the politics of distributing rice and cash to voters, promising instead to focus on business empowerment and sustainable development.
Iyere made the statement during a grassroots consultation tour across the five local government areas of Esan land — Esan Central, Esan West, Esan North-East, Esan South-East and Igueben.
Addressing market women, youths, farmers and community elders during the tour, the candidate said temporary palliatives could not provide lasting solutions to the economic challenges facing constituents.
“I will not come to share N2,000 or a bag of rice to you and then abandon you for four years in Abuja,” Iyere said.
“That is not leadership, that is deceit. Rice will finish in two weeks, money will finish in two days, but empowerment will last forever.”
Iyere said that, if elected, his priorities would include business support for market women, skills acquisition and startup grants for youths, agricultural support for farmers and scholarships for students.
“I am coming to empower your business,” he said. “I will empower our market women with interest-free loans. I will empower our youths with skills, grants and startup capital. I will empower our farmers with modern tools and support. I will empower our students with scholarships.”
The candidate urged residents to prioritise policies and programmes capable of improving livelihoods over campaign-season handouts.
His position comes amid continuing debate over the use of food items, cash and other materials as campaign incentives during elections, particularly in communities facing economic hardship.
Iyere’s campaign has centred on enterprise development, youth inclusion and agricultural support, with the slogan, “Vote Empowerment, Vote Business Growth.”
He is seeking the Edo Central senatorial seat on the platform of the Accord Party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The senatorial district comprises Esan Central, Esan West, Esan North-East, Esan South-East and Igueben local government areas.
As political consultations intensify ahead of the 2027 elections, candidates and political parties are expected to outline their programmes and approaches to addressing economic and development challenges in the district.
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