By Egbonimali Shadrack
AGBOR, DELTA STATE — Recent political debates surrounding the zoning of the Delta State House of Assembly seat to Abavo in Ika South Local Government Area require immediate clarification to prevent the spread of a misleading narrative designed to cause mischief.
Ika South remains a united entity where the people of Agbor and Abavo have historically enjoyed mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and strong political collaboration.
However, addressing the underlying issues requires asking a fundamental question: Who originated the call for rotation, and what was their true motive?
The current push for rotation is being driven by individuals who were the first to betray the principle.
While rotation holds value, the people of Agbor have consistently demonstrated that they prioritize competence and capacity over sentiment when choosing leadership.
It is noteworthy that those championing this rotation narrative are the same actors who held the Ika Federal Constituency seat—meant to be shared between two Local Government Areas—for sixteen consecutive years.
Their sudden advocacy for equity raises serious questions about their credibility. Hon. Chuky Dandy has consistently supported candidate capability over political sentimentalism.
It was precisely this principled stance that led to him being denied support during the last All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election for the House of Representatives.
As the popular saying goes, “A good friend can be better than a bad brother.”
During the last APC Primary electoral cycle, Hon. Cordelia Anyangwu, who hails from Abavo allegedly worked against the political ambition of Rt. Hon. Martins Okonta, an Abavo-born politician contesting for the House of Representatives.
Reports indicate that the Abavo APC leadership was allegedly misled by Hon. Anyangwu for her own interests.
Recognizing that she lacked the political strength to defeat Rt. Hon. Okonta in a fair primary contest, she allegedly orchestrated a deceptive strategy that ultimately stripped Abavo of its rightful chance to secure the ticket.
While many Abavo constituents remain unaware of the behind-the-scenes dynamics, facts show that Hon. Cordelia Anyangwu was the direct catalyst for Rt. Hon. Martins Okonta’s loss and the broader setback suffered by the Abavo Kingdom.
For the avoidance of doubt, while there was no formal written zoning agreement, a clear political understanding existed: since Agbor had held the House of Representatives seat for two consecutive terms, fairness and equity dictated that Abavo should produce the next candidate for Ika South.
Despite this understanding, the opportunity was squandered due to internal betrayals.
To set the record straight, the loss of the House of Representatives seat by Abavo rests squarely on the actions and alledgede political maneuvers of Hon. Cordelia Anyangwu.
