Nigerian Concord Newspaper
Coalition of Benue South Advocacy Groups, CBSAG jas called on the leadership of All Progressive Congress, People’s Democratic Party, African Democratic Congress, Labour Party and other political parties in Benue State to consider equity and fairness in the zoning of their respective House of Representatives tickets for Okpokwu/Ogbadibo/Ado Federal Constituency prior to the 2027 general elections.
According to the group in a press statement signed at the end of its emergency meeting in Makurdi last night, the main advocacy group in Benue South Senatorial Zone made it known that its members will only campaign for any party that zones its Enone ticket to Ado local government in order to ensure a balanced rotational arrangements among the three local governments that form the Federal Constituency.
Speaking in the press statement, Chairman of Coalition of Benue South Advocacy Groups, Chief Joseph Obande stated that by calculation, all the three local governments namely; Okpokwu, Ogbadibo and Ado have produced representatives for Enone at the House of Representatives twice each.
The group said that the rotational arrangements started with Ado local government when Rt. Hon. Obande from Ado represented the Federal Constituency between 1999 and 2003.
Obande wasn’t able to make his reelection as a result of his poor performance during his time as a member of the House of Representatives representing Okpokwu/Ogbadibo/Ado Federal Constituency.
“However, Hon. Francis Agbo from the same Ado local government came and completed the second tenure of of Mr. Obande. Agbo represented the Federal Constituency between 2019 and 2023. He too was unable to get a reelection as a result of his very poor performance and bad representation at the Green Chambers ” the statement reads in parts..
Under the same rotation arrangement, the group recalled that Rt. Hon. Onobi from Okpokwu local government area did the two terms of the local government when he represented the Federal Constituency between 2003 and 2011 which was eight years.
The Coalition of Benue South Advocacy Groups continued that Rt. Hon. Saleh from Ogbadibo benefitted from the rotation arrangement by representing Okpokwu/Ogbadibo/Ado Federal Constituency at the Green Chambers between 2011 and 2019. This is another eight years of two terms.
The group continued in the statement: “Recall that after several consideration prior to the 2019 general elections, it was unanimously agreed by Benue South leaders under the leadership of Senator David Mark irrespective of their political parties that Ado local government should be allowed to do a second term at the House of Representatives to enable the local government complete its two terms.
“That truly happened and Hon. Francis Agbo from Ado benefitted from the arrangement. Despite all odds, he was roundly voted for at the 2019 election and he represented Ado Local Government and completed the local government’s second term at the Green Chambers..
“Let’s make it clear, the rotation agreement of two terms per local government in Enone at the Green Chamber was concluded with the single term of Francis Agbo. And again, another rotation agreement started with Ado Local Government where the agreement started in 1999.
“In 2023, there was a push for Agbo to return and start the rotation agreement for Enone at the Green Chamber but his failures as a federal lawmaker were too many. He performed below expectations so the people rejected him and went for another son of Ado Local Government, Rt. Hon. Philip Agbese who represents the Federal Constituency presently..
“As the 2027 general elections draw nearer, we are appealing that all the political parties in Benue state should allow Ado Local Government to complete its two tenures under the rotation agreement”
Furthermore, the advocacy group vowed move against any political party that tries to shortchange Ado local government or tries to deny the local government of its right to complete its two tenures under fresh rotation agreement.
“It’s the turn of Ado to produce the next House of Representatives member for Okpokwu/Ogbadibo/Ado Federal Constituency in 2027 and after then, Okpokwu local government can come for their own two terms under the existing rotation agreement. Right now, Okpokwu and Ogbadibo should not agitate to represent our Federal Constituency in 2027 so as not to alter the rotation arrangement” the group stated.