Why Ohafia Youths Say Orji Uzor Kalu Is Unwelcome After IPOB Label In 2023 Election
Tensions are rising in Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia State. Youths from the Ohafia Youth Association (OYA) have openly declared that Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, who represents Abia North Senatorial District, is not welcome in the community ahead of the 2027 general election.
The youths accused the former governor of branding Ohafia as an Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) zone during the 2023 election. They believe this label led to widespread voter suppression and long-term political harm to the area.
Speaking on behalf of the association, OYA leaders Obasi Kalu Obasi (Chairman) and Onyekachi Uduma (Secretary) insisted that Senator Kalu should not be allowed to gather, campaign, or mobilize politically in Ohafia as the preparations for 2027 begin.
The controversy resurfaced on Wednesday in Umuahia. Representatives of the Ohafia Youth Association went to the Zone 9 Police Headquarters in support of their leaders. This followed a cyberbullying complaint reportedly filed against them by Senator Kalu.
Addressing journalists, the group’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Chika Nnate, said the youths honored the police invitation to defend their position and to express their concerns about the senator.
According to Nnate, the IPOB label that Senator Kalu allegedly placed on Ohafia in 2023 created fear, increased security presence, and suppressed voters. This effectively denied tens of thousands of eligible voters their right to vote.
He claimed that over 150,000 registered voters in Ohafia could not cast their ballots during the election. He added that Isiama Ward, the largest ward in Abia North, recorded zero votes on election day.
The youths also claimed that even with the electoral loss faced by the community, results were later announced in regions that favored the senator. They found this deeply unfair and provocative.
Frustrated by what they see as political betrayal, the Ohafia youths questioned why Senator Kalu is now seeking acceptance in the same community he allegedly harmed.
They accused him of neglecting the area. They stated that Ohafia has no visible senatorial projects, no youth empowerment programs, no meaningful road construction, and no economic initiatives from his tenure.
According to the association, the only items distributed in the area were wheelbarrows, which they found to be symbolic and insulting to the community's needs.
As a result, the youths have decided across Ohafia to resist Senator Kalu’s presence and political activities ahead of 2027.
During the protest, members of the association displayed placards with bold messages such as:
“OUK Leave Us Alone,”
“Enough Is Enough, Ohafia Stands United,”
“OUK Stay Away From Ohafia,”
“Show Us Your Senatorial Projects In Ohafia,” and
“Divide And Rule Tactics Have Ended.”
This situation signals a growing political storm in Abia North. Ohafia youths are determined to defend their community’s political dignity and voting rights as the countdown to the 2027 elections begins.