‎Group Pushes for Arochukwu/Ohafia to Get Abia North Senatorial Seat

‎A political pressure group in Abia State is pushing for Arochukwu LGA to get the Abia North senatorial seat, citing years of marginalization in the district.
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‎The Old Bende Political Forum said on Wednesday that Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency had been underrepresented in producing senators for Abia North since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999.
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‎Speaking at a news conference in Ohafia, the group’s chairman, Mazi John Okafor, said the constituency had produced a senator only once, while other areas had held the seat multiple times.
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‎He said Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency had produced senators on four occasions, including Ike Nwachukwu and Uche Chukwumerije, while Bende Federal Constituency had held the position twice, including the current occupant.
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‎“Equity demands that the seat should now be ceded to Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency,” Okafor said.
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‎The forum also argued that within the constituency, Ohafia had dominated political appointments, noting that it had produced the state’s deputy governor for three terms, while Arochukwu had yet to occupy a comparable position.
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‎It urged the All Progressives Congress (APC) to nominate Dr Philips Nto from Arochukwu for the senatorial ticket, saying such a move would promote fairness and improve the party’s chances in the election.
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‎The group further said that if the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, emerges as the APC governorship candidate, it would be more balanced for the senatorial candidate to come from a different local government area.
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‎“It would not be equitable for both the governorship and senatorial candidates to come from the same local government,” the forum said.
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‎The group reiterated its support for Kalu as a potential governorship candidate and Nto for the Senate, describing them as capable and experienced.
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‎It added that the APC would stand a stronger chance in the 2027 elections if it fields candidates it described as competent across the state’s zones.