The third-term ambition of Princess Miriam Onuoha, the current representative of Okigwe North Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, has generated conflicting opinions among her constituents, with some groups supporting her bid while others oppose it.
The Okigwe Zone Youth Mandate has urged the lawmaker to abandon her third-term ambition to preserve the power-sharing arrangement among the Local Government Areas (LGAs) that constitute the constituency. Meanwhile, the Isiala Mbano United Youth has defended her constitutional right to seek re-election.
Kelechi Uzorma, Chairman of the Okigwe Zone Youth Mandate, argued in an official statement that Princess Onuoha's intention to contest again in 2027 would disrupt the gentleman's agreement on power rotation among the four LGAs in the constituency.
"Princess Onuoha is currently serving her second term. For equity and fairness to prevail, she should not run again in 2027," Uzorma stated. He emphasized that according to the established rotation principle, Onuimo LGA should produce the next representative, a move he believes would ensure political stability in the constituency.
In contrast, the Isiala Mbano United Youth group has condemned what they described as "an unwarranted attack" on the lawmaker. In a statement signed by the group's Chairman, Ikechukwu Ndubuisi, and Secretary, Stanley Chibuike Iwuoha, they defended Princess Onuoha's right to seek another term based on her performance.
"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 group stated. "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 Isiala Mbano United Youth further rejected claims that Princess Onuoha and Isiala Mbano were denying the people of Onuimo their turn to represent the constituency. They argued that exceptional performance should sometimes override rotation arrangements, noting that "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."
The group also clarified that Princess Onuoha is not desperate to return to the House but is motivated by her desire to bring more democratic dividends to the constituency. They emphasized that while the lawmaker is not preventing anyone from contesting, she has the legitimate right to seek her constituents' mandate in 2027.
This political development highlights the ongoing tension between adherence to informal power rotation agreements and the constitutional right of incumbents to seek re-election based on their performance record.
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