2027: Izhia stakeholders petition Nwifuru, reject kangaroo zoning in Ohaukwu LGA 

By Uchenna Okeh Abakaliki 

The stakeholders of Izhia clan in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State have formally petitioned governor Francis Nwifuru and requested for his immediate intervention over what they described as ‘Kangaroo zoning of political positions’ in the council by embattled leaders.

Recall that some persons held a meeting at the residence of Senator Anthony Agbo in Ngbo, and thereby, purportedly zoned all positions to Ngbo clan.

Izhia stakeholders, however distanced themselves from the ‘Kangaroo’ endorsement of candidates for the 2027 general elections.

They described the move as unrepresentative, exclusionary, and contrary to long-established principles of equity guiding political power-sharing in the area.

In a communiqué presented by the President of Umuagara Town Union, Emmanuel Eze oboh, following a resolution reached after extensive consultations across the clan at Nsuruakpa Primary School.

According to them: “the purported endorsement reportedly held on April 20, 2026, at the residence of Senator Anthony Agbo in Ngbo was rejected in its entirety by the people of Izhia. 

They argued that the process neither reflected the collective will of Ohaukwu constituents nor adhered to the established zoning arrangement among the three constituent zones of Izhia, Ngbo, and Effium.

The resolution was signed by a cross-section of community and youth leaders within the Izhia clan, including, Chidi Onwe, Youth President, Izhia Clan; Emmanuel Eze oboh, President, Umuagara Town Union;

Others are; Ekuma Agbo, President, Ameachi Town Union; Mr. Chinedu James Igbu, Stakeholders’ Leader; Mike Nweke, President, Ishielu Community Town Union; Mr. Amadi Chris Nwankwu, President, Amike Community Town Union; and Chief Otozi, President, Nsuruakpa Community.

The stakeholders emphasized that Ohaukwu’s political stability over the years have been anchored on a well-defined rotational framework often referred to as a “charter of equity” which ensures inclusiveness and balanced representation across the zones.

They noted that, historically, elective positions particularly the local government chairmanship and legislative seats have rotated systematically among the zones. 

In the case of the Ohaukwu South State Constituency, the arrangement has seen Ngbo and Izhia alternate representation on an eight-year basis.

The communiqué recalled that Ngbo held the seat from 1999 to 2007 under Chief Solomon Onwe, after which it rotated to Izhia from 2007 to 2015, with Honourable Kennedy Ogba and Honourable Mabel Aleke serving four years each.

The seat subsequently returned to Ngbo, where, Christian Oselebe served from 2015 to 2019, followed by the current occupant, Chinedu Onah, who has completed an extended tenure of eight years.

The Izhia stakeholders argued that this development has disrupted the rotational balance, short-changing Izhia by four years and undermining the principle of fairness that has historically guided political participation in the constituency.

“On the basis of equity, good conscience, and natural justice, the Ohaukwu South State Constituency seat ought to revert to Izhia in the 2027 electoral cycle,” the communiqué stated.

The group further expressed concern that, in addition to the chairmanship position already zoned to Ngbo, the disputed endorsement allegedly allocated other key elective positions including both state constituencies and the Ebonyi/Ohaukwu Federal Constituency to the same zone.

This, they warned, risks entrenching a pattern of political dominance inconsistent with the collective ethos of the local government.

The stakeholders also referenced an earlier engagement on December 29, 2025, during which Izhia had agitated for the chairmanship position but accepted its eventual zoning to Ngbo following assurances from the state governor, Francis Nwifuru, that compensatory considerations would be made in subsequent electoral allocations.

They further noted that the governor had advised against premature endorsements or imposition of candidates, urging stakeholders to allow a more inclusive and consultative process.

The Izhia leaders alleged that the recent endorsement contravened this directive and excluded critical segments of Ohaukwu’s political structure.

“We respectfully call on the governor to look into this matter and ensure that justice, fairness, and equity prevail in the distribution of elective positions in Ohaukwu,” the communiqué stated.

Corroborating this position, the President of Amechi Autonomous Community Town Union, Professor Ekuma Agbo, said: “This resolution was collectively endorsed by the signatories and the entire Izhia people. 

“Equity demands that what is good for the goose is also good for the gander. There has never been a time when three positions are taken by one group such an arrangement is unjust and unacceptable.

“We are confident that the governor, a leader we know to be fair-minded, will do justice and remember the Izhia clan in Ohaukwu politics.”

Also speaking, Izhia Youth President, Comrade Chidi Onwe, urged the governor to critically examine the matter, warning against the concentration of elective positions in one clan.

He maintained that such a development would amount to injustice and cautioned that the people might resist it at the polls if not addressed.

Other speakers noted that, if left unresolved, the issue could heighten political tensions in Ohaukwu as stakeholders across the zones begin early alignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.