₦airaland Forum

I agree with you sir, i have been telling people that i suspect Atiku is working for Tinubu and i believe Tinubu will give him Apc ticket 2031. As it stands now since Buhari is dead, he is the most popular Norhern politician now.

Segunbabba:
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ayekooto Akindele, has alleged that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) was being used by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as a political platform to undermine the possibility of a Southern presidency.

Akindele made the claim while reacting to comments from the Obidient Movement, which described Labour Party’s Peter Obi as politically wise for not participating in the ADC presidential primary and for reportedly leaving the party for the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).

He argued that Atiku had previously attempted to leverage the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to regain power and return leadership to the North but was unsuccessful.

In a post on his Facebook page, Ayekooto wrote: ObiDENTs say Obi is a wise politician by not contesting in the ADC Primary but instead ran away from the party. I disagree with them.

The most foolish ignorance of any politician is not to know from the beginning that ADC was Atiku’s vehicle to truncate the Southern presidential term.

It was an arrangement to return power to the North after 8 years of Buhari and 4 years of Tinubu. He had earlier used PDP but failed.

So, Obi would have been wise if he didn’t join ADC at all. And the most foolish thing he did was to decamp from LP and he ended up in NDC. This clearly shows that Alex Otti is a sensible man and Pita is a foolish man to the core.

https://politicsnigeria.com/2026/05/27/apc-chieftain-alleges-adc-was-used-by-atiku-to-undermine-southern-presidency-blames-obi/

PRESS RELEASE
16th May, 2026

RT. HON. EMEKA MARTINS CHINEDU CONGRATULATES HON. CHUKWUDI ANYANWUOCHA AS APC CANDIDATE, PLEDGES SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE.

The member representing Ahiazu Mbaise/Ezinihitte Federal Constituency, Rt. Hon. Emeka Martins Chinedu, has congratulated Hon. Chukwudi Anyanwuocha on his emergence as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Ahiazu Mbaise/Ezinihitte Federal Constituency in the forthcoming general election.

He stated that he will support Hon. Chukwudi Anyanwuocha in his journey towards electoral success and eventual service at the National Assembly.

He further noted that he will provide guidance on the workings and responsibilities of the House of Representatives upon his emergence, the support he did not personally benefit from his predecessor.

Rt. Hon. Emeka Martins Chinedu reaffirmed his commitment to the APC, stating that he remains firmly with the party and will fully deploy his large political structure across Ahiazu and Ezinihitte in support of Hon. Chukwudi Anyanwuocha’s electoral victory.

He extended his best wishes for a successful electoral outing and a productive legislative tenure.

Signed:

Nnamdi Ukasanya
SA Media and Publicity to Rt. Hon. Emeka Martins Chinedu

CASE FOR AHIAZU AND EZINIHITTE ZONING ARGUMENTS AND THE DARK SIDE OF EQUITY* :

*How Nigeria's Zoning Arrangement Weakens Democracy*
BY REV. ONYEKA BEDE NWOKO(Ph.D)

For over three decades, Nigeria's political parties have operated on an informal but deeply entrenched principle known as the "charter of equity" or zoning arrangement - a system designed to rotate elective positions among the country's six geopolitical zones to ensure fairness and inclusion. While the intention behind this practice is noble, its real-world consequences have exposed fundamental cracks in Nigeria's democratic fabric, with specific political cases illustrating how zoning often achieves the opposite of its stated purpose

REBUTTAL: SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT ON THE FALSE NARRATIVE OF “ABSOLUTE ZONING” IN AHIAZU MBAISE / EZINIHITTE FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY*

By Nnamdi Ukasanya

In every democratic society, political disagreements are inevitable. Advocacy, consultations, strategic alliances, and competing interests are legitimate features of political engagement. What is never legitimate, however, is the attempt to convert temporary partisan arrangements into permanent political doctrine or to present political convenience as historical truth. It is against this background that it has become necessary, in the

CURRENT IMO LEGISLATORS, THEIR HUNGER FOR TENURE ELONGATION AND THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER. (1).

By: Sam. Onwuemeodo.


From an advanced Democracy like that of the United States of America, U.S.A, to the young or growing Democracy like that of Nigeria, the writers or the drafters of each of the nation's Constitutions, had, mutatis mutandis, specified or defined the tenure or terms, for the office of President and that of the governor.

WHY RT. HON. EMEKA MARTINS CHINEDU DESERVES TO RETURN

As the political atmosphere gradually gathers momentum ahead of another electoral cycle, the people of Ahiazu-Mbaise / Ezinihitte Federal Constituency are once again faced with a decision that goes far beyond party slogans, campaign posters, or emotional rhetoric. The choice before the people is a serious one that will determine whether the constituency continues on a path of growing national relevance or returns to the familiar cycle of starting all over again.

Countdown To APC Primaries: A Match To Victory For Hon. Emeka Chinedu

By UZOGARA TOBECHUKWU

In few days time, members of Africa's acclaimed largest party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) will be heading to the polls to elect their party representatives for the 2027 general elections. Unlike before where few delegates congregated to choose party candidates, the narrative has changed with the revised electoral law in place. With the option of direct primaries likely to be adopted by most federal constituencies in choosing who hoists the party flag, it has become pertinent to examine factors likely to determine where the pendulum swings.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

*Do not be in a hurry to build with a poor man simply because he looks humble, hungry, or ambitious. Poverty itself is not a crime, but sometimes it hides character until opportunity and money arrive.*

*The true test of a man is not when he has nothing. The true test begins when resources, influence, and power start passing through his hands. That is when values are exposed, loyalty is tested, and character speaks louder than words.*

LIBERAL DEMOCRACY*

Perhaps the most insidious disadvantage of zoning is how it transforms political competition into a zero-sum ethnic arithmetic. Zoning formula does not support the basic tenets of liberal democracy because it places embargo temporarily on a group of people on the basis of geopolitical zones from running for any elective office, violating the constitutional principle of human equality . Politicians no longer need to build broad national coalitions based on policy ideas; they simply need to wait for their zone's turn.

The central claim emerging from that gathering is that it is now the exclusive turn of Ekwereazu in Ahiazu Local Government Area to produce both federal and state lawmakers. That claim, though politically convenient for its promoters, does not survive even a cursory examination of the constituency’s political history. Without delving unnecessarily into the internal dynamics of the state constituency, public records show that between 2015 and 2019, Hon. Ken Agbim served one term, while Hon. Nkem Otube assumed office

If you're elected President for two terms of eight years, you can't be elected President again. If you're elected governor for two times or terms of eight years, it also means that you can not be elected governor again.

His legislative footprint further speaks for itself. He has actively participated in lawmaking, oversight, and national discourse, sponsoring and supporting legislative initiatives aimed at strengthening governance, expanding healthcare, empowering young people, improving infrastructure, promoting institutional reforms, and addressing environmental challenges.

His proposals including the Federal Facilities Management Agency, the Federal College of Nursing and Midwifery in Mbaise, the National Emergency Call Centre, and the South East Erosion Control Commission reflect a clear legislative vision that connects national policy direction with local benefit.

As members head to the polls in the next few days, the name of Rt Hon Emeka Martins Chinedu will continue to resonate with them due to the qualities he represents. As a ranking member of the House, a vote for him will be a declaration that the people of Ahiazu Ezinihitte federal constituency are ready to break new grounds, build greater momentum and achieve a cohesive political environment amenable to sustainable growth and development. It is hoped that this electoral exercise will present the people a golden opportunity to ensure that Ahiazu Ezinihitte federal constituency enjoys the rare privilege of participating actively in producing the next set of presiding officers for the national assembly. This is a mission that must be accomplished!

Many first time lawmakers, under intense pressure from constituents who demand immediate empowerment, projects, and visible results, often find themselves borrowing money, selling personal assets, or depending on friends, sponsors, and financiers just to create the impression that they have arrived.*

A CASE FOR AHIAZU AND EZINIHITTE ZONING ARGUMENTS AND THE DARK SIDE OF EQUITY* :

*How Nigeria's Zoning Arrangement Weakens Democracy*
BY REV. ONYEKA BEDE NWOKO(Ph.D)

For over three decades, Nigeria's political parties have operated on an informal but deeply entrenched principle known as the "charter of equity" or zoning arrangement - a system designed to rotate elective positions among the country's six geopolitical zones to ensure fairness and inclusion. While the intention behind this practice is noble, its real-world consequences have exposed fundamental cracks in Nigeria's democratic fabric, with specific political cases illustrating how zoning often achieves the opposite of its stated purpose.

The most devastating blow to the zoning consensus came in 2010 following the death of President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua. Under the Peoples Democratic Party's (PDP) established formula, power was meant to remain in the North for eight years, from 2007 to 2015. However, when Vice President Goodluck Jonathan, a Southerner from the South-South, succeeded Yar'Adua and subsequently contested the 2011 presidential election, the zoning arrangement collapsed. According to research published in the Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences, this distortion of the zoning principle "led to a political chain reaction mostly expressed by loss of the presidential election by the ruling party in 2015" . The North felt profoundly short-changed, and the resulting resentment manifested in unprecedented electoral violence following the 2011 polls and a dramatic escalation of the Boko Haram insurgency occurring during Jonathan's administration.

The PDP's loss in 2015 was not merely an electoral defeat, it was the price of violating an informal agreement that had held the party's coalition together. When the All Progressives Congress (APC) emerged victorious, its leaders, including former party chairman Bisi Akande, openly declared that "zoning is not part of APC" and that the party would practice "merit-based" appointments instead. What followed was a dramatic skewing of federal appointments toward the North, which in turn triggered renewed agitation for self-determination and militancy in the south. The abandonment of zoning, far from ushering in a new era of meritocracy, simply replaced one form of exclusion with another.

The 2023 general elections provided yet another textbook case of zoning's contradictions. Bola Tinubu, a Muslim from the South-West, claimed the APC presidential ticket on the basis of an "implied agreement" that power would shift to the South after Buhari's two terms from the North. Yet within the PDP, the party's decision to zone its ticket to the North produced a rebellion by five Southern governors - the infamous G5 - who refused to support the party's presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, precisely because he was not from the South . The result was a fractured opposition and a ruling party that won the presidency but failed to secure national acceptance, with widespread allegations of electoral irregularities. Zoning, rather than uniting, had become a weapon of intra-party warfare.

**THE WINNER TAKES ALL **
Beyond these high-stakes presidential contests, zoning systematically undermines meritocracy at every level of governance. Research on public sector performance in the Fourth Republic documents how the principle "discriminates against promotions and appointments because they must be seen to reflect our diverse ethnicity rather than merit". The study highlights the case of the Buhari administration, where "out of 280 Chief Superintendents of Immigration promoted to Assistant Comptrollers of Immigration, over 250 are of northern/Muslim extraction," and where all military formations in the South-East were headed by Northerners. When zoning is observed, it often produces mediocrity; when it is discarded, it frequently gives way to outright nepotism. Either way, competence loses.
*MISALLOCATION OF RESOURCES*
The economic consequences are equally troubling. Under the guise of equitable distribution, zoning has enabled the misallocation of national resources to politically favored regions rather than economically viable locations. The same research documents how the federal government completed three major water projects in Katsina State, President Buhari's home state, and signed a memorandum for a refinery with a capacity of 150,000 barrels per day, despite Katsina having no oil reserves. "What is a refinery doing in Katsina state? Is it viable?" the researchers ask, pointing to how zoning logic distorts development priorities .

*LIBERAL DEMOCRACY*

Perhaps the most insidious disadvantage of zoning is how it transforms political competition into a zero-sum ethnic arithmetic. Zoning formula does not support the basic tenets of liberal democracy because it places embargo temporarily on a group of people on the basis of geopolitical zones from running for any elective office, violating the constitutional principle of human equality . Politicians no longer need to build broad national coalitions based on policy ideas; they simply need to wait for their zone's turn.

**PRIMITIVE ACCUMULATION AND EXTRACTIVE SYSTEM OF GOVERNANCE*

This has produced a political class that is deeply entrenched in what researchers describe as "primitive accumulation," where public office becomes an avenue for advancing group interest rather than national development. This, according to my research is the root cause of corruption in Nigeria, that comes usually with the slogan: "this is our turn"

The tragedy of Nigeria's zoning arrangement is that it was born of genuine necessity in a deeply divided society. Yet its practice has revealed an uncomfortable truth: when equity is pursued through rotation rather than competition, it tends to empower ethnic entrepreneurs who exploit the system for personal gain while delivering neither justice nor development to the masses. As Nigeria approaches future electoral cycles, let's have a rethink on the issue of zoning.

*REBUTTAL: SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT ON THE FALSE NARRATIVE OF “ABSOLUTE ZONING” IN AHIAZU MBAISE / EZINIHITTE FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY*

By Nnamdi Ukasanya

In every democratic society, political disagreements are inevitable. Advocacy, consultations, strategic alliances, and competing interests are legitimate features of political engagement. What is never legitimate, however, is the attempt to convert temporary partisan arrangements into permanent political doctrine or to present political convenience as historical truth. It is against this background that it has become necessary, in the interest of truth, democratic accountability, and the preservation of political history, to respond to the recent gathering of a few individuals claiming to represent Ekwereazu in Ahiazu Mbaise, who have sought to project to the public, and by extension the leadership of Imo State, the existence of an alleged “absolute zoning” arrangement in Ahiazu Mbaise / Ezinihitte Federal Constituency.

From every objective indication, the gathering appears to have been a carefully coordinated political assembly reportedly convened under the coordination of one Mr. Okwudiri Nwandu. While every citizen reserves the constitutional right to political association, consultation, and advocacy, no individual, interest group, or sectional coalition possesses the authority to rewrite established political history or transform temporary political understandings into binding constituency wide obligations.

The central claim emerging from that gathering is that it is now the exclusive turn of Ekwereazu in Ahiazu Local Government Area to produce both federal and state lawmakers. That claim, though politically convenient for its promoters, does not survive even a cursory examination of the constituency’s political history. Without delving unnecessarily into the internal dynamics of the state constituency, public records show that between 2015 and 2019, Hon. Ken Agbim served one term, while Hon. Nkem Otube assumed office in 2019 and continues to serve to date. That progression alone is sufficient to expose the weakness of any claim of rigid or absolute zoning.

With specific respect to Ahiazu Mbaise / Ezinihitte Federal Constituency, the facts are even clearer. There exists no documented, legally binding, constitutionally recognized, or universally adopted framework establishing what is now being described as “absolute zoning.” No charter exists. No written agreement exists. No community wide covenant exists. No legally recognized political instrument exists.

What some persons now seek to portray as an established political doctrine was, in reality, nothing more than an internal arrangement within the Peoples Democratic Party prior to the 2015 elections, designed to create political accommodation for Hon. Nnanna Igbokwe to pursue a second term under the political realities of that period. By its very nature, that arrangement was partisan, temporary, and political. It was never constitutional, institutional, or perpetual.

The records are neither hidden nor disputable. Since that period, Hon. Nnanna Igbokwe, alongside other aspirants from both Ahiazu and Ezinihitte, has consistently contested for the same office. He contested in 2019. He contested again in 2023. Beyond electoral participation, he pursued pre election and post election legal challenges through the highest levels of the judicial process in an effort to secure the office.

This raises a simple but unavoidable question. If an “absolute zoning” arrangement truly existed as is now being claimed, why did Hon. Nnanna Igbokwe, alongside several other aspirants, freely contest in both 2019 and 2023 with the full knowledge, support, and active participation of many of the same individuals who now seek to promote this revised political narrative?

Even more fundamentally, why did numerous sons and daughters of both Ahiazu and Ezinihitte travel from Mbaise to Owerri, Lagos, and Abuja to participate as witnesses in those political and legal processes if the outcome had already been predetermined by an unquestionable zoning consensus?

These are not rhetorical questions. They are factual contradictions that expose the fragility of the narrative now being advanced.

Even more concerning are the long term implications of this newly packaged doctrine of what can only be described as “absolute clannish zoning.” Political arrangements that elevate sectional entitlement above merit, clan identity above competence, and inherited political claims above democratic competition carry consequences far beyond electoral cycles. They risk institutionalizing division, weakening public trust, and encouraging a culture in which public office holders may begin to view development, empowerment, and governance through the narrow lens of clan loyalty rather than collective constituency responsibility.

A constituency as politically conscious, historically sophisticated, and socially interconnected as Ahiazu Mbaise / Ezinihitte cannot afford such regression. Democracy was never designed to serve clans. Democracy was designed to serve people.

This is why elders, community leaders, political stakeholders, and opinion moulders must rise above temporary political calculations and resist any narrative capable of creating avoidable divisions, institutionalizing distrust, weakening democratic participation, or undermining the collective ownership that representative governance demands.

Let it therefore be clearly stated for the record. There is no such thing as “absolute zoning” in Ahiazu Mbaise / Ezinihitte Federal Constituency. Every qualified son or daughter of the constituency retains the constitutional right to aspire, contest, and serve in any elective office, subject only to the provisions of the law and the freely expressed democratic choice of the people.

Public office is neither hereditary, transferable, nor preserved through political mythology. It is earned through service, sustained through competence, legitimized by credibility, and ultimately conferred only by the mandate of the electorate.

History must be respected. Facts must be preserved. Institutions must be protected. And truth must never be sacrificed on the altar of political convenience.

Many first time lawmakers, under intense pressure from constituents who demand immediate empowerment, projects, and visible results, often find themselves borrowing money, selling personal assets, or depending on friends, sponsors, and financiers just to create the impression that they have arrived.*

In the case of the legislator, whose primary assignment is to make laws and other "idiocyncracies"( over-sight functions), the more experienced, the more productive or fruitful the person becomes. The more experienced, the better. And in the overall interest of all and sundry

His legislative footprint further speaks for itself. He has actively participated in lawmaking, oversight, and national discourse, sponsoring and supporting legislative initiatives aimed at strengthening governance, expanding healthcare, empowering young people, improving infrastructure, promoting institutional reforms, and addressing environmental challenges.

Hon Emeka Chinedu's plethora of projects strategically located in all the 24 wards of the constituency have clearly raised the bar of political representation beyond doubts. His loyalty to constituted party leadership is evident in his intentional act of staying away from controversy and other divisive tendencies. This much was seen in 2023 when he emerged unopposed as his former party's sole candidate. His unassuming nature which endears him to a vast majority of voters in Ahiazu Ezinihitte federal constituency is an asset no politician would want to take for granted. It is therefore no surprise that his popularity has spiked political interests in Mbaise land thereby leading to an unprecedented increase in political participation ever since he appeared

Many first time lawmakers, under intense pressure from constituents who demand immediate empowerment, projects, and visible results, often find themselves borrowing money, selling personal assets, or depending on friends, sponsors, and financiers just to create the impression that they have arrived.*

CURRENT IMO LEGISLATORS, THEIR HUNGER FOR TENURE ELONGATION AND THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER. (1).

By: Sam. Onwuemeodo.


From an advanced Democracy like that of the United States of America, U.S.A, to the young or growing Democracy like that of Nigeria, the writers or the drafters of each of the nation's Constitutions, had, mutatis mutandis, specified or defined the tenure or terms, for the office of President and that of the governor.

WHY RT. HON. EMEKA MARTINS CHINEDU DESERVES TO RETURN

As the political atmosphere gradually gathers momentum ahead of another electoral cycle, the people of Ahiazu-Mbaise / Ezinihitte Federal Constituency are once again faced with a decision that goes far beyond party slogans, campaign posters, or emotional rhetoric. The choice before the people is a serious one that will determine whether the constituency continues on a path of growing national relevance or returns to the familiar cycle of starting all over again.

Countdown To APC Primaries: A Match To Victory For Hon. Emeka Chinedu

By UZOGARA TOBECHUKWU

In few days time, members of Africa's acclaimed largest party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) will be heading to the polls to elect their party representatives for the 2027 general elections. Unlike before where few delegates congregated to choose party candidates, the narrative has changed with the revised electoral law in place. With the option of direct primaries likely to be adopted by most federal constituencies in choosing who hoists the party flag, it has become pertinent to examine factors likely to determine where the pendulum swings.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

*Do not be in a hurry to build with a poor man simply because he looks humble, hungry, or ambitious. Poverty itself is not a crime, but sometimes it hides character until opportunity and money arrive.*

*The true test of a man is not when he has nothing. The true test begins when resources, influence, and power start passing through his hands. That is when values are exposed, loyalty is tested, and character speaks louder than words.*

CURRENT IMO LEGISLATORS, THEIR HUNGER FOR TENURE ELONGATION AND THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER. (1).

By: Sam. Onwuemeodo.


From an advanced Democracy like that of the United States of America, U.S.A, to the young or growing Democracy like that of Nigeria, the writers or the drafters of each of the nation's Constitutions, had, mutatis mutandis, specified or defined the tenure or terms, for the office of President and that of the governor.


They had, in their wisdom, spelt out the number of terms or years, the person elected into the office of president or governor, would stay. And after the duration of that tenure, the curtain is drawn.


The same authors of the Constitution, who specifically stated, with no ambiguity, the number of terms or tenure or years, someone should service as president or governor and the chapter is closed, also gave members of the legislature, whether at the national level or at the state level, blank cheques or limitless tenure. No duration. No tenure or term specification. No age limit, after the entry point. Once one is elected, he stays put for as many terms as his or her constituents allow him or her and even at one hundred years. Some even argue that, the more the age, the sweeter the thing becomes. The older, the sweeter. The more the advancement in age, the better. The more juicy, the whole thing becomes.


I do not think that the writers of the Constitution, who came up with such arrangement or develpment were stupid. They were not foolish, if you ask for my opinion. There was a spirit behind what they did. Ask me, they were under great annointing to have done that. To behold.


If you're elected President for two terms of eight years, you can't be elected President again. If you're elected governor for two times or terms of eight years, it also means that you can not be elected governor again.


In the 1999 Constitution as amended, Section 137, sub-secton 1(B), made it snappy. No ambiguity. No long or detailed grammar. Simply put; "A person shall not be qualified for election to the office of president if, he has been elected to such office at any two previous elections". Bekee wu agbara. .." if he has been elected to such office at any two previous elections". In other words, if he had spent two terms of four years each. Or if he had spent eight years in office. Same with that of the governor of a State.


The point or the sound logic is that, the functions of the Executive, be it the office of president or governor, are distinct or different from those of a legislator. Any serious president or governor can achieve his or her set goals or mapped out programme, in eight years.


In the case of the legislator, whose primary assignment is to make laws and other "idiocyncracies"( over-sight functions), the more experienced, the more productive or fruitful the person becomes. The more experienced, the better. And in the overall interest of all and sundry.


Aside the issue of becoming more experienced in the art and act of law drafting and law making, the person grows more wings or develops more tentacles. I don't want to say, ,the person becomes more wonderful or more powerful. Do you understand?. The person becomes more grounded and more connected for good. To behold. And all things being equal. The person involved becomes more stoic for results. Sentiment apart. Bias apart.


For those talking about turn by turn, they also know truth. The truth that, a particular constituency benefits more, when their legislator becomes an "old School" in the National Assembly or in the House of Assemby. Becomes an old "stock". But in doing all these, the wheat must be separated from the chaffs. The dregs must be removed from the main thing. The real people must be detached from the "oyupaases". Give an oyupaa twenty six years at the national or state Assembly, he would remain an "Oyupaa". Even, the more he stays, the more his or her "oyupaa" becomes more advanced or more glaring. Becomes "Oyupastic". From there, you get "oyupasm". It becomes his or her credo or principle. It grows from singular, "Oyupaa" to plural, "Oyupases". We know them. It's grossly or to a large extent, a Spiritual thing. A spiritual venture. When someone does not have the right spirit for results or for performance, you can't help such situation. It's a bad scenario.


That is to say, as we write, those of them with the zeal or who have shown enough desire or capacity for achievements or results, should be encouraged by all those concerned, to return to the national Assembly and State Assemby, while the snails or the "Oyupaas" among them should be told to recoil or made to vamoose. To disengage. Reason being that you don't flog a dead horse.

Let me continue to navigate. I do not see what the people of one Federal or State Constituency would lose, if their representative who has done well and seen to have done well, goes back to the House of Reps.or House of Assemby. It does not matter how many terms he has already appropriated. Or, spent. Turn by turn, is made for man and not man, for turn by turn. The people of the particular Constituency would gain more because their man has shown enough energy. Has shown strength or capacity. It is in the compound and simple interest of his Constituents, to continue to tap from his legislative and socio- political sagaciousness and exploits.


For the State and Federal Constituencies, we all know those of them who have shown that, allowing them to go back or continue, won't be in vain. Won't be a waste of renewed mandate. They have the vibrancy, the composure and the clouts to continue to draw from the deep well. They are very few.


It is not even advisable for a State like lmo, to send entirely fresh people to the National Assembly or to the State Assembly. The existing ones who have dramatised or shown the doggedness and ability, and the right posturing to go for goal or gold, should be supportrd and allowed to go back. Experience is the best teacher because it tells one , when to go straight and when to meander, for good. "Oyupaas" do neither go straight nor meader. They always stagger. Always thinking about which leg to put forward first. At times, stranded with no one to come to their rescue. That won't be our portion In JESUS Name, Amen.

While we continue to clap for JESUS.

The future of the constituency should not be built on interruption. It should be built on continuity, consolidation, and sustained progress.

Countdown To APC Primaries: A Match To Victory For Hon. Emeka Chinedu

By UZOGARA TOBECHUKWU

In few days time, members of Africa's acclaimed largest party, the All Progressives Congress (APC)

*FOOD FOR THOUGHT*

*Now, for those who have been made to believe through campaign rhetoric, sweet tongues, and carefully crafted promises that all is always rosy in the system, pause and think.*

*What do you call a situation where someone goes to the National Assembly, takes home his own salary, allegedly cuts from the salaries of his aides, and at the end of his tenure still denies those same aides their severance benefits?*

*This is not bitterness. This is not propaganda. It is simply food for thought.*

*Because when you hear the cracking sound of bitter kola in the mouth of a man who not only values human dignity, but also understands sacrifice, endurance, and personal capacity, you may begin to assume that every man is built the same, that anybody can step into public office and deliver the same results regardless of character, conduct, exposure, or limitations.*

*Nwanne, think twice.*

*When tested and trusted capacity is before you, do not trade substance for sweet words, noise, or packaging.*

*Original spec does not come every season.*

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Let me give you a little hint about politics, human nature, and society.

Have you noticed that it is often easier for people to praise a politician who is not from their state, not from their constituency, and not contesting against their brother, friend, political ally, or personal interest?

The same man you celebrate from a distance may be facing the fiercest criticism from people in his own backyard. Not necessarily because he is not performing, but because interests are colliding, ambitions are threatened, and political territories are being protected.

If you doubt it, look around. Go from state to state and you will discover something interesting. The same leader being applauded by outsiders may be under heavy attack from insiders. Why? Because somebody there is interested. A brother is interested. An ally is interested. A political structure is interested.

That is how society works.

And here is another political life lesson. In politics, not every applause is endorsement, and not every criticism is about performance. Sometimes both are simply products of interest, alignment, and timing.

Secondly, have you noticed that any individual you fought, criticized, or campaigned against, once he eventually wins election, can hardly ever meet your subjective expectations? No matter what he does, your mind is already programmed not to see it because you are no longer looking with objectivity. You are looking through political lenses. And sometimes, you only begin to acknowledge his performance when he is almost leaving office and no longer poses a political threat to your interest.

Now think deeper.

Have you also noticed that the same person you once celebrated, defended, and described as unprecedented suddenly becomes a colossal failure the moment you, your brother, your friend, or your political ally develops interest in that same office?

Overnight, the good becomes bad. Capacity becomes questionable. Achievements become ordinary. Not necessarily because the man changed, but because interests have changed.

That is human nature.

Remember, after all that Jesus Christ did, He was still rejected and condemned by the Pharisees and Sadducees.

So, who are you?

That is why every genuine mind must be careful of bandwagon opinions, emotional political narratives, selective outrage, and crowd driven judgments in public discourse.

Think deeply.

Use your tongue to count your teeth.

WHY RT. HON. EMEKA MARTINS CHINEDU DESERVES TO RETURN

As the political atmosphere gradually gathers momentum ahead of another electoral cycle, the people of Ahiazu-Mbaise / Ezinihitte Federal Constituency are once again faced with a decision that goes far beyond party slogans, campaign posters, or emotional rhetoric. The choice before the people is a serious one that will determine whether the constituency continues on a path of growing national relevance or returns to the familiar cycle of starting all over again.

At moments like this, communities must ask a simple but important question: do we abandon growing influence just when it is beginning to mature, or do we consolidate it for greater results? When that question is honestly considered, the case for the return of Rt. Hon. Emeka Martins Chinedu becomes not just political, but strategic.

Representation in the National Assembly is not something that produces maximum results overnight. It is a system built on relationships, trust, institutional knowledge, committee influence, and strategic access to the centres where national decisions are made. Those who understand Abuja know that effective representation is not just about occupying a seat, but about building credibility, networks, and access that translate into real development for a constituency.

Today, Rt. Hon. Emeka Martins Chinedu has evolved from that foundation into a lawmaker whose influence was built even while serving from the opposition, and has now been significantly strengthened by alignment with the ruling party. This transition is critical because it converts previously negotiated access into more direct engagement with the machinery of national governance, budgeting, and project implementation.

His emergence as Chairman of the House Committee on Utilization of Take-Off Funds and Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on the Federal Capital Territory places him in strategic positions of influence, oversight, and national engagement. These are not ceremonial roles but instruments of real power within the legislative system, now reinforced by political alignment that enhances delivery capacity to his constituency.

Beyond titles and committee assignments, what makes Rt. Hon. Emeka Martins Chinedu deserving of another mandate is his ability to convert access into opportunities for his people. Over the years, he has built bridges across political divides, earned respect within the National Assembly, and maintained consistent representation. In politics, relationships, access, ranking, and influence are the invisible drivers of development. These are not built overnight, and interrupting such momentum just as it begins to yield stronger results would weaken the constituency’s growing advantage.

His legislative footprint further speaks for itself. He has actively participated in lawmaking, oversight, and national discourse, sponsoring and supporting legislative initiatives aimed at strengthening governance, expanding healthcare, empowering young people, improving infrastructure, promoting institutional reforms, and addressing environmental challenges.

His proposals including the Federal Facilities Management Agency, the Federal College of Nursing and Midwifery in Mbaise, the National Emergency Call Centre, and the South East Erosion Control Commission reflect a clear legislative vision that connects national policy direction with local benefit.

At the constituency level, his impact is visible across Ahiazu-Mbaise and Ezinihitte in education, healthcare, rural infrastructure, water supply, electrification, road rehabilitation, market development, community halls, transformers, and solar-powered streetlights. These are not abstract claims but tangible developments that reflect sustained representation.

More importantly, he has demonstrated strong commitment to human capital development through skills acquisition programmes, agribusiness training, youth empowerment schemes, employment facilitation, and women-focused interventions. This reflects leadership that understands that development is not only about infrastructure, but also about people.

Another defining quality is accessibility. In a political environment where many leaders become distant after elections, constituents continue to recognize him as approachable, respectful, and connected to their realities.

The reality before the constituency is simple. One of the greatest setbacks over the years has been interrupted continuity. Each time representation is reset, relationships are rebuilt, credibility is re-earned, influence is weakened, and progress slows.

But continuity changes everything.

Continuity allows experience to mature into influence. It allows relationships to become opportunities. It allows access, now strengthened by ruling party alignment, to translate into faster and more effective development delivery. It allows a constituency to move from presence to real influence within national decision making.

It must also be understood that seniority and continuity within the National Assembly are critical drivers of influence. Lawmakers who remain consistent over time naturally gain stronger recognition, deeper committee influence, and improved bargaining power in national negotiations. Each new start resets this ladder of influence. By sustaining Rt. Hon. Emeka Martins Chinedu in office, the constituency is not just retaining a representative; it is preserving and advancing its position within the hierarchy of legislative influence where real decisions about development priorities are shaped.

Today, Rt. Hon. Emeka Martins Chinedu stands at a critical point where experience, access, committee strength, national relationships, and ruling party alignment are combining to create greater potential impact. This is not the time to interrupt momentum but the time to consolidate it.

This moment is particularly critical because the constituency is not starting from zero but standing at a peak of accumulated experience, access, and political alignment. With Rt. Hon. Emeka Martins Chinedu firmly positioned within key committee leadership and aligned with the ruling party structure, this period represents a rare window where influence and access can translate more directly into tangible federal delivery. Interrupting this trajectory at this stage would mean losing momentum just when it is producing its strongest outcomes.

The question is therefore straightforward. Do we start again, or do we build on what has already begun? Do we weaken growing influence, or strengthen it? Do we gamble with uncertainty, or consolidate proven capacity?

If experience matters, if performance matters, if accessibility matters, if political alignment matters, and if continuity matters, then the answer is clear.

Rt. Hon. Emeka Martins Chinedu deserves to return not only because he has served, but because he is now better positioned within the ruling structure to deliver even more effectively; not only because he started the journey, but because he has built the influence and access needed to take Ahiazu-Mbaise / Ezinihitte to greater heights.

The future of the constituency should not be built on interruption. It should be built on continuity, consolidation, and sustained progress.

That is why Rt. Hon. Emeka Martins Chinedu deserves another mandate.

Countdown To APC Primaries: A Match To Victory For Hon. Emeka Chinedu

By UZOGARA TOBECHUKWU

In few days time, members of Africa's acclaimed largest party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) will be heading to the polls to elect their party representatives for the 2027 general elections. Unlike before where few delegates congregated to choose party candidates, the narrative has changed with the revised electoral law in place. With the option of direct primaries likely to be adopted by most federal constituencies in choosing who hoists the party flag, it has become pertinent to examine factors likely to determine where the pendulum swings.

In Nigerian politics, performance, party loyalty and respect for party elders are three critical ingredients inevitably considered before entrusting any individual with party tickets. Members must have confidence in an aspirant's ability to deliver and his predisposition to loyalty must be incontestable. In addition, his political antecedents as well as fidelity to party manifesto are of great importance in making decisions as to vote or not. The members will be very much interested in knowing what the aspirants have accomplished both in their private and public lives. What impact has their presence in their respective local communities been and what tangible achievements can be ascribed to them? These are questions which will be answered before making the critical decision of casting their votes.

While the APC primaries will be holding simultaneously in all states of the federation, my particular attention is on Ahiazu Ezinihitte federal constituency. After a careful study of all the aspirants who have shown willingness to contest for the seat under the APC umbrella, one name continues to feature more prominently - Rt Hon Emeka Martins Chinedu, the incumbent HoR member. Having been in the saddle for the last few years, it's natural for him to be in the spotlight, especially since he is a leading contender for the seat in the coming election.

Buoyed by the support and goodwill of his teeming constituents scattered across a broad spectrum, Hon Emeka is generally perceived as "A Man On A Mission." His track record of achievements backed by years of cognate parliamentary experience afford him better advantage than most other contestants. According to his supporters, he's on a mission to place Ahiazu Ezinihitte on the national political map as a choice destination for transformative development.

Hon Emeka Chinedu's plethora of projects strategically located in all the 24 wards of the constituency have clearly raised the bar of political representation beyond doubts. His loyalty to constituted party leadership is evident in his intentional act of staying away from controversy and other divisive tendencies. This much was seen in 2023 when he emerged unopposed as his former party's sole candidate. His unassuming nature which endears him to a vast majority of voters in Ahiazu Ezinihitte federal constituency is an asset no politician would want to take for granted. It is therefore no surprise that his popularity has spiked political interests in Mbaise land thereby leading to an unprecedented increase in political participation ever since he appeared on the political scene. His grassroots mobilization is further accentuated through a regular interface with his constituents. Through such regular meetings, political access is made much easier between the people and their representative. Many political watchers applaud this as truly exemplary.

As members head to the polls in the next few days, the name of Rt Hon Emeka Martins Chinedu will continue to resonate with them due to the qualities he represents. As a ranking member of the House, a vote for him will be a declaration that the people of Ahiazu Ezinihitte federal constituency are ready to break new grounds, build greater momentum and achieve a cohesive political environment amenable to sustainable growth and development. It is hoped that this electoral exercise will present the people a golden opportunity to ensure that Ahiazu Ezinihitte federal constituency enjoys the rare privilege of participating actively in producing the next set of presiding officers for the national assembly. This is a mission that must be accomplished!