Traditional rulers from the Ohuhu clan in Umuahia North Local Government Area (LGA) of Abia State have called on politicians from Ikwuano, Umuahia North and Umuahia South LGAs to honour the power‑rotation agreement that governs the Ikwuano/Umuahia Federal constituency. The appeal, delivered on Friday, seeks to avert potential tension and violence in the region.
Eze Iheanyichukwu Nwokenna of the Ekeoba Kingdom addressed the gathering at the palace of Eze Iheanyichukwu Abel Ezeigbo in Uhabiri, Umuchime na Amanso autonomous community, Ossah Ibeku. He urged representatives from Ibeku, Ikwuano and Umuahia South to allow the Ohuhu clan to complete its second term in the House of Representatives, stressing that breaching the power‑sharing pact established under former Governor Theodore Orji could destabilise the area.
Another Ohuhu chief, Eze Nnamdi Ofoegbu, echoed the sentiment, warning that adherence to the agreement was essential to prevent violence. “Let the world hear our voice. We don’t want killings, we don’t want political problems,” he said.
Eze Iheanyichukwu Abel Ezeigbo, who received the Ohuhu delegation, affirmed that the monarchs would not permit their communities to become a “killing field” because of individual political ambitions. “Instead of allowing our people to kill themselves, the Ohuhu traditional rulers have chosen to approach us,” he stated. “Ibeku and Ohuhu are one. None of us should die in the course of politics. We want peace to reign.”
The appeal reflects long‑standing arrangements among the clans in the Ikwuano/Umuahia constituency, which rotate legislative seats to maintain communal harmony. Violations of such informal agreements have previously sparked disputes in the state’s politics.
Stakeholders indicated that respecting the rotation could preserve stability ahead of the upcoming elections, though no specific timeline for a decision was provided. The traditional rulers’ intervention underscores the role of indigenous institutions in mediating political contests in Nigeria’s southeast.
The meeting concluded with a collective call for peaceful coexistence and an appeal to political actors to prioritise community welfare over personal ambition. The outcome of the appeal may influence candidate selection processes within the constituency and shape the tone of electoral competition in the region.
