The Otukpo/Ohimini Equity Movement has thrown its support behind Ambassador Lilian Ofie-Adoyi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2027 National Assembly election, saying the contest presents an opportunity to restore what it described as the established zoning arrangement in the constituency.
The group said its support for Ofie-Adoyi was based on concerns over political rotation and what it described as the growing perception that the Otukpo/Ohimini Federal Constituency could become a political dynasty or family inheritance.
The movement made its position known in a statement signed by its Coordinator, Mr Isreal Achichi, and Secretary, Dr Audu Emmanuel.
It congratulated Ofie-Adoyi on securing the PDP ticket but said the development had also brought renewed attention to the zoning understanding between Otukpo and Ohimini.
The group said its concern was not about the family background of Ofie-Adoyi’s opponent, Hon. Blessing Onyeche Onuh, but about what it described as the need to prevent any individual, family or political group from having a permanent claim to the constituency.
Onuh, who represents the Otukpo/Ohimini Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, is the daughter of former Senate President David Mark.
The movement said its understanding of the constituency’s political arrangement showed a pattern of rotation between Otukpo and Ohimini.
According to the group, Hon. Adah Ejiga of Otukpo represented the constituency from 1999 to 2003, followed by Hon. Agbo Oga of Ohimini from 2003 to 2007.
It said Hon. Nelson Alapa of Otukpo served from 2007 to 2011, while Hon. Ezekiel Adaji of Ohimini represented the constituency from 2011 to 2019.
The group said Otukpo returned to the seat in 2019 through Onuh and argued that the current cycle would amount to eight years of representation for the axis by 2027.
It therefore maintained that, under its interpretation of the rotation arrangement, Ohimini should have the opportunity to produce the next representative.
“Our position is not a rejection of any individual; rather, it is a demand that the principle of equitable rotation be respected,” the group said.
The movement also raised concerns about what it described as the perception of political positions being passed from one generation of a family to another.
It recalled that David Mark represented the area in the Senate for about 25 years and argued that political leadership should remain open to other qualified citizens.
The group stressed that its objection was not based simply on Onuh being Mark’s daughter, but on its belief that public office should not be treated as a hereditary possession.
“The constituency belongs to the people of Otukpo and Ohimini and should not be treated as a hereditary political estate,” it said.
The movement said it believed Ofie-Adoyi’s candidacy provided voters with an opportunity to consider a candidate from the other axis and revisit the principle of rotation ahead of the 2027 election.
It called on the PDP and other political stakeholders to openly address the zoning issue and engage residents of both local government areas.
The group also urged residents to remain peaceful and exercise their democratic rights, stressing that the final decision on who represents the constituency should be made by the electorate.
The movement said its backing for Ofie-Adoyi was ultimately about widening political participation, respecting the rotation principle and ensuring that no individual, family or political interest is seen as having a permanent claim to the Otukpo/Ohimini seat.