The third-term ambition of the member representing Okigwe North Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Princess Miriam Onuoha, has met with mixed reactions from her constituents.
A group under the aegis of Okigwe Zone Youth Mandate has called on the lawmaker to drop her third-term ambition to maintain power sharing among the LGAs that make up the constituency. In contrast, another group, under the umbrella of Isiala Mbano United Youth, maintained that the lawmaker has the constitutional mandate to run again if she wishes.
In an official press statement, the Chairman of the Okigwe Zone Youth Mandate, Kelechi Uzorma, speaking on behalf of the group, stated that the move by the current representative of the constituency to contest for the same position again in 2027 would scuttle the gentleman’s agreement reached among the four LGAs on power rotation.
Uzorma maintained that Princess Onuoha is serving her second tenure and advised her not to run again in 2027 in order to uphold equity and fairness. He added that, in line with power rotation, it is the turn of Onuimo to produce the next representative, a move he said would ensure political stability in the constituency.
Countering the position of the group, Isiala Mbano United Youth, in a separate statement made available to journalists, condemned what it described as an unwarranted attack on the lawmaker, aimed at stopping her from returning to the House in 2027.
The Chairman of the group, Ikechukwu Ndubuisi, and its Secretary, Stanley Chibuike Iwuoha, stated that the present representative has effectively represented Okigwe North Federal Constituency, maintaining that there is nothing wrong if she desires another term.
They remarked that, through her effective representation, she had attracted monumental projects to the constituency.
“We are proud of her brilliant, effective and sound representation, which has earned her top positions in the House, through which she has attracted several important projects to the Federal Constituency.
“The unwarranted attack on her by attempting to stop her genuine and legitimate desire to return to the House of Representatives in 2027 will be legitimately resisted,” the release stated.
The group added that it took exception to the insinuation that Princess Onuoha and Isiala Mbano were denying the people of Onuimo their turn to represent the constituency in 2027, remarking that such statements were baseless and an attempt to deny the lawmaker her constitutional right to return to the House.
“One good turn deserves another and there have been instances of those who returned to the Parliament several times, going by their sound representation of their people, irrespective of what arrangements on ground in their Constituencies.
“We also want to disabuse the minds of our good people from the insinuation that Princess Onuoha is desperate to return to the House. She is by no means desperate about her returning to the House in 2027. Rather she is moved by her desire to bring many more democracy dividends to the constituency,” the release further stated.
The youth group further noted that the lawmaker is not denying anyone the right to contest, stating that Onuoha has the legitimate right to seek her people’s mandate in 2027.
