Stakeholders in Okpoga have formally demanded the opportunity to produce the next member of the House of Representatives for Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency in 2027, also known as Enone, citing decades of political exclusion.
This was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a Town Hall Meeting convened by the Okpoga Now Movement at Ugwu Okpoga.
In the communiqué, participants resolved unanimously that it is the turn of Okpoga to occupy the federal legislative seat, stressing that the demand is anchored on equity, fairness and justice.
The stakeholders noted that since the return to democratic governance in 1999, Okpoga, despite being the administrative headquarters of the constituency, has not produced a representative in the Green Chambers, describing the situation as a long-standing imbalance that must be corrected.
The communiqué further highlighted that the meeting had in attendance key political actors and aspirants across party lines, including Richard Ejoha, Anthony Agom, John-Mary Idoko, Ralph Otobo Odoh and Okoriko Abah, all of whom supported the call for an Okpoga candidate to emerge in 2027.
Stakeholders also used the opportunity to appeal to other communities within Ado, Okpokwu and Ogbadibo Local Government Areas to support the aspiration in the interest of unity, inclusiveness and political balance.
“We call on all stakeholders to remain resolute and prepared to reconvene after the party primaries in order to collectively support and rally behind candidates of Okpoga extraction who emerge victorious across party lines.
“We must not forget that our strength lies in our unity, and our success depends on the ability to speak and act with one voice. Let us use this medium to humbly appeal to our fellow brothers and sisters across Ado, Okpokwu and Ogbadibo Local Government Areas to support this noble aspiration in the interest of love and unity,” the communique read in part.
As part of resolutions reached, the Okpoga Now Movement was adopted as the platform to drive the 2027 ambition, with a call on sons and daughters of the community, both at home and in the diaspora, to commence grassroots mobilization ahead of party primaries.
The communiqué urged stakeholders to remain united and to rally behind any Okpoga candidate who emerges victorious at the primaries, irrespective of political affiliation.
The statement was signed by Hon. Omaga Omaga, Convener of the Okpoga Now Movement and former Leader of the Okpokwu Local Government Legislative Council.
