A coalition of advocacy groups in Benue South has called on major political parties to uphold equity and fairness in the zoning of the House of Representatives ticket for the Okpokwu/Ogbadibo/Ado Federal Constituency ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The group insisted that it is the turn of the Ado Local Government Area.
The advocacy group known as the Coalition of Benue South Advocacy Groups (CBSAG), in a statement issued at the end of an emergency meeting in Makurdi, urged the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), Labour Party (LP) and other political parties in the state to zone their tickets to Ado to sustain what it described as a balanced rotational arrangement among the three constituent local governments.
The group warned that its members would only mobilise support for political parties that concede the ticket to Ado, stressing that such a move would ensure fairness and stability in the constituency’s political structure.
Chairman of the coalition, Chief Joseph Obande, explained that available records show that the three local governments, Okpokwu, Ogbadibo and Ado have each produced representatives twice under an established rotation principle.
He recalled that the arrangement began in 1999 with Ado producing Rt. Hon. Obande, who served between 1999 and 2003, while Hon. Francis Agbo, also from Ado, later completed the locality’s second tenure between 2019 and 2023.
According to the statement, Okpokwu Local Government subsequently held sway through Rt. Hon. Onobi, who represented the constituency for two terms from 2003 to 2011, while Ogbadibo followed with Rt. Hon. Saleh, who served from 2011 to 2019.
The coalition further noted that prior to the 2019 general elections, leaders of Benue South, under the leadership of former Senate President, Senator David Mark, had agreed across party lines that Ado should complete its second term, a decision that led to Agbo’s emergence.
It argued that a fresh rotational cycle commenced thereafter with Ado, adding that the election of the incumbent lawmaker, Rt. Hon. Philip Agbese, in 2023 reinforces the position that the local government should be allowed to complete its two-term slot under the new arrangement.
While urging political actors to respect the zoning principle, the group cautioned against any attempt to alter the existing order, warning that such a move could disrupt political harmony in the constituency.
The coalition also vowed to resist any party that denies Ado the opportunity to complete its tenure, insisting that Okpokwu and Ogbadibo should defer their ambitions until the current rotational cycle is concluded.
It maintained that adherence to zoning agreements has, over the years, helped to manage political expectations and reduce tension among stakeholders in the constituency, noting that any deviation could trigger avoidable divisions.
The group further argued that the principle of equity must not only be preached but demonstrated in practical political decisions, especially in a diverse constituency like Enone, where inclusiveness remains critical to sustainable development.
CBSAG also urged political leaders, elders and opinion moulders across the three local governments to rise above partisan considerations and prioritise the collective interest of the constituency.
It added that the success of the existing arrangement has been largely dependent on mutual trust and respect among the component units, warning that undermining such a framework could erode confidence in the political process.
The coalition equally called on youths and community-based organisations to support the demand for fairness, emphasising that the future of the constituency depends on maintaining a system that guarantees equal opportunity for all.
Reaffirming its position, the group insisted that the 2027 contest should not be driven by individual ambition but by a collective commitment to justice, balance and continuity.
It, however, expressed readiness to engage with political parties and other stakeholders to ensure a peaceful and widely acceptable zoning outcome ahead of the polls.
The coalition concluded by reiterating that Ado Local Government must be allowed to complete its turn under the current rotational cycle, describing the demand as non-negotiable in the interest of equity and political stability in Enone Federal Constituency.