A socio-political organization under the aegis of the Abia North Peace Foundation has rejected calls for the zoning of the Abia North Senatorial seat exclusively to Ohafia Local Government Area, describing such demands as selective, clannish, and detrimental to regional equity ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The position was contained in a press statement issued on Thursday by the Director General of the Foundation, Chief Nnanna Ukaegbu, in response to an opinion piece authored by Ukoha Njoku Ukoha advocating the senatorial candidacy of Chief David Onuoha Ogba (Bourdex).
Ukaegbu noted that Ohafia LGA has enjoyed significant political representation since 1999, occupying the Deputy Governorship position for 12 years with a potential 16-year tenure under Governor Alex Otti alongside key legislative principal offices, federal ministerial appointments, and diplomatic postings.
“It amounts to political selfishness for anyone to advocate that Ohafia LGA retain both the Deputy Governorship slot zoned to Abia North and simultaneously claim the senatorial seat,” Ukaegbu stated.
“Equity and brotherhood require a balanced distribution of political opportunities across all constituent local government areas in the district.” the statement added.
The group noted that Abiriba community had previously produced a senator in the Third Republic through Senator Onyeka A. Okoroafor, adding that if any rotational arrangement within Ohafia LGA were to be considered, the seat should logically fall to Ohafia clan rather than Abiriba.
The statement further criticized what it termed selective political commentary, recalling that previous long-serving senators in Abia North and Abia South served multiple terms without similar zoning agitations from the author, while communities like Aba have waited over two decades for senatorial representation.
The Foundation warned against attempting to dictatate political outcomes or creating friction around the administration of Governor Alex Otti, emphasizing that Senator Orji Uzor Kalu retains strong grassroots backing across Abia North.
Chief Ukaegbu further urged political actors to allow the electorate of Abia North to freely exercise their democratic choices without coercion or the imposition of unwritten rotational arrangements.