Ahead of the 2027 general elections, there is disquiet in Oji River Local Government Area of Enugu State over the breach of age-long zoning of political positions in the area.
Tension is already building in the area, with concerned members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the electorate cautioning that it could affect the party’s chances in the general elections. Oji River is one of the local government areas in the state where the Peter Obi tsunami swept through in the 2023 general elections.
However, stakeholders in the area said what happened in the last election was not just about Peter Obi but an expression of anger by the people over the breach of the zoning arrangement.
Addressing journalists on the matter on Saturday in Enugu, a businessman and spokesman of the Achi clan, Ugo Omere, called on Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State to hearken to the call of the people.
Omere, who said the development, if allowed to stand, could affect the fortunes of the party negatively, noted that zoning had always stabilized the political process in the area until the last election. He said the issue affects both the position of the House of Representatives and that of the Oji River Local Government Chairman.
Providing insight into the issue of the House of Representatives, Omere disclosed that “we want to draw the attention of our Governor, His Excellency, Barr Peter Mbah to a major issue that may prove a big challenge for the party in the 2027 election.
“Our people were supposed to go to the House of Reps in 2023, when Rt Hon Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi was governor, but he gave the ticket to Engr Anayo Onwuegbu. This time around, we got prepared, we did everything to get the attention of the governor and appealed for the correction of the injustice against our people.
“Recall that the PDP lost the election in our place in 2023, so we tried to tell the governor the reasons for the loss. During our visit to him, we explained to him that our people are not happy that the House of Reps position, which ought to have been zoned to our place, was taken away.
“We thought that the Governor would look at it, but unfortunately, our people have been disappointed again, and we are not happy about that.”
On the issue of Oji River Local Government position, he said it is meant to be the turn of Oji River Central, but that feelers show that a few stakeholders were again trying to truncate the zoning arrangement.
“We have Oji River Central, Mmam River, Oji River South, and Oji River East Development Centre. It has always been on a rotational basis. Central has taken their two tenures, also Mmam, Oji River South, and then Oji River East is in the seat now.
“Hon. Chinedu Onyeagba, (Omex global) from Oji River East served the first 2 years after which Hon. Greg Anyaegbudike is completing the second tenure due for their development centre.
“So, it is supposed to be the turn of Oji River Central now, where we come from. But a few stakeholders are now conspiring with the current chairman Hon. Anyaegbudike to push for the Chairman to continue even when their zone will be completing their slot after the current tenure of Anyaegbudike.
“Now, as the spokesman of the Achi clan, I want to call on the attention of the Governor, to tell him that the Achi clan is displeased over the situation at hand, especially the House of Reps denied Oji River East, who are supposed to take the slot.
“The Achi clan is now begging the governor that, now that the Reps ticket has been denied us, we are urging the governor to consider allowing the zoning arrangement to take effect and allow the Oji River chairmanship position to move to the Oji River central development center.
“When we hosted the Governor on December 21, 2025, we endorsed him for a second tenure in office. We are now begging him that fairness, equity, and justice should prevail in the position of local government chairman. It is the turn of Oji River Central Development Centre.
“Our people are begging the governor to use his good office and allow our people to take what is due for them; this is the only way to avert the anger of our people ahead of the 2027 election,” Omere stated.
