The Okigwe Zone United Youth Movement has urged stakeholders in Onuimo Local Government Area to allow Isiala Mbano LGA to complete what it described as its “second phase” of representation in the House of Representatives by 2027.
The group said its position is anchored on what it called a clarified and corrected understanding of the zoning arrangement guiding representation in Okigwe North Federal Constituency.
Speaking during a peaceful protest in Owerri, the National President of the movement, Comrade Clinton Chukwuma, argued that the existing rotation formula entitles Isiala Mbano to an eight-year tenure spanning 2023 to 2031. According to him, this means Onuimo’s turn would commence in 2031, not 2027 as being canvassed in some quarters.
Chukwuma said the disagreement stems from differing interpretations of how the constituency’s power-sharing arrangement has operated since 1999.
He explained that the rotational understanding is structured in phases rather than a simple three-way cycle.
According to him, the first cycle ran from 1999 to 2023, covering 24 years, with each of the three LGAs — Onuimo, Okigwe and Isiala Mbano — producing a representative for eight years.
He said Onuimo LGA produced the first representative, the late Hon. Maurice Ibekwe, followed by Okigwe LGA, while Isiala Mbano took the final slot in that cycle.
Chukwuma further stated that a new 24-year cycle commenced in 2023, with Isiala Mbano, through the incumbent lawmaker, Miriam Onuoha, occupying the first eight-year slot of the second phase.
“In this framework, Isiala Mbano’s tenure is expected to run until 2031,” he said, adding that the “second phase” refers to this new 24-year arrangement where Isiala Mbano is positioned to begin the cycle.
He maintained that allowing the LGA to complete the eight-year term would amount to respecting the structure established during the first cycle.
The group urged political actors in Onuimo to uphold what it described as a tested zoning mechanism that has ensured inclusion, balance and relative stability within the constituency.
Chukwuma said adherence to the eight-year framework is critical to sustaining political harmony and preventing avoidable tension in Okigwe North Federal Constituency.
He added that the historical record shows each LGA, including Onuimo, had its turn during the first cycle, stressing that allowing Isiala Mbano to complete its tenure in the second cycle should not be interpreted as denying Onuimo its opportunity.
Rather, he said, it is about preserving a predictable and equitable rotation system that guarantees fairness for all three LGAs over the long term.
The movement also claimed that key stakeholders across the constituency are aligned with the position that Isiala Mbano should complete its tenure through 2031, after which the slot would rotate to Onuimo.
Chukwuma insisted that the current debate is not about ceding political space but about complying with what he described as a documented and mutually understood rotation schedule.
He called on political leaders and opinion moulders to prioritise peace and stability in the constituency by respecting the established zoning framework.
