By Urum Kalu Nmecha
By every measure of political justice in Nigeria as represented by federal character, electoral fairness, historical continuity, and moral obligation, Abia State politics stands today at a crossroad. The 2027 general elections present not just another political contest but a referendum on the very soul of the state’s founding philosophies of equity, justice, and inclusiveness. For over two decades, these ideals were safeguarded through an unwritten yet deeply respected convention: that the governorship of Abia should rotate among its three senatorial zones — North, Central, and South.
This convention was not born out of political convenience but of deliberate wisdom. It was the product of the state’s founding fathers, which, I daresay, were men and women who understood that the delicate fabric of Abia State politics would only endure if every zone, every community, and every voice was given a fair chance to lead. Through this power rotation, Abians found peace, unity, and a sense of shared destiny. But when this principle was abandoned in the 2023 gubernatorial election, the foundation of that unity began to shake.
*A Tradition Betrayed*
Let us recall the trajectory. From 1999 to 2007, power resided in Abia North under Orji Uzor Kalu. From 2007 to 2015, it shifted to Abia Central under Theodore Orji. And from 2015 to 2023, Abia South produced Okezie Ikpeazu. By simple logic and moral equity, the next cycle should have returned to Abia North in 2023, thereby completing the circle of fairness envisioned from the state’s inception.
Yet, against good judgment and the rhythm of established justice, the political establishment at the time chose otherwise. The People’s Democratic Party, which had prided itself as a custodian of this balance, fielded a candidate from Abia Central, thereby scuttling the rotational order that had guaranteed peace for over two decades. That decision fractured the state’s political alignment and awakened a sleeping giant: the will of the people.
*The Protest of a Wounded Zone*
The results of the 2023 elections did not just mark a change of party leadership; they represented the loud, unmistakable, and symbolic voice of political resistance. Abia North, long patient and expectant, felt betrayed, and in an act of collective defiance, chose to punish the establishment through the ballot. The Labour Party, led by Dr. Alex Otti, benefited immensely from this anger, even though Otti himself hails from Abia Central.
Analysts have since agreed that the strong performance of the Labour Party in Abia North, which was once a PDP stronghold, was not a coincidence. It was a deliberate statement: “We will not reward injustice with silence.” That revolt, though cloaked in the garment of reform and anti-corruption, was powered by a deeper sentiment that insists that equity must not be reduced to a campaign slogan. The unwritten pact that once held Abia’s political culture together had been broken, and the electorate responded with unmistakable clarity.
*Why Power Must Return to Abia North — Ohafia*
The argument for returning power to Abia North, and by extension Ohafia, in 2027 is not rooted in sentimentality but in historical fairness and political logic. Ohafia, with its deep cultural heritage and tradition of courageous leadership, has contributed immensely to the making of modern Abia. From producing distinguished public servants to fostering military, academic, and business excellence, Ohafia stands as a symbol of Abia’s resilience and unity.
Allowing the zone to complete its rightful turn would not only restore balance but reaffirm that Abia rewards patience, not opportunism; equity, not entitlement. The people of Ohafia, and indeed all of Abia North, have waited long enough. Their commitment to peace during previous rotations, even when passed over, speaks deeply about their political maturity. The state owes them not a favor, but justice.
*Equity that Nurtures; Justice that Preserves*
Those who argue that zoning inhibits merit miss the point. Zoning does not undermine merit; it organizes it. It is not a rejection of competence but a recognition that competence resides in every part of Abia, whether North, Central, or South. Power rotation in Abia is the moral infrastructure that prevents domination and ensures that every section feels included in the state’s journey. Without it, governance becomes the property of a few, and politics degenerates into conquest rather than cooperation.
To ignore this principle in 2027 would be to set a dangerous political precedent: one that tells future generations that agreements, even when honored for decades, can be tossed aside when inconvenient. It would mean institutionalizing injustice, legitimizing imbalance, and breeding resentment among communities who would, justifiably, feel excluded from their own government.
Abia’s strength lies in her diversity. The founders of the state, men like Dee Sam Mbakwe and other visionaries who championed fairness as the cornerstone of governance, understood that political stability cannot be decreed; it must be cultivated through equity. Their dream was not of a state perpetually at war with itself, but one where leadership circulates like lifeblood: nourishing every zone, every community, and every family.
*2027: A Call to Conscience*
As we approach the 2027 general elections, the call is not merely political; it is moral and generational. The next election should not be about personalities but principles. It must be about restoring faith in fairness; about telling our children that in Abia, justice still matters. Abia North has waited, and their turn, by every measure of conscience, has come again.
To the political class, let this be clear: equity is not weakness: it is wisdom. To the voters, let it be remembered that silence in the face of injustice is complicity. And to every stakeholder who still believes in the Abia dream, let 2027 be the year we return to the pact that made us brothers, not rivals.
The story of Abia State politics is too noble to be rewritten by political expediency. The Abia power rotation convention is not just an old agreement: it is the heartbeat of the state’s democracy. If it falters, we risk losing more than balance; we risk losing the trust that binds us together. Hence, to restore the will of our founding fathers, both PDP and APC must work together to set the wheel of Abia zoning rolling again by returning power to Abia North and by extension Ohafia LGA, which has a voting power of over 245,000 registered voters.
Let equity reign, let the will of Abia’s founding fathers prevail; let Abia 2027 elections mark, not just the next election, but the restoration of justice, unity, and the Abia spirit that once made our state a model of peace and political maturity.