ISUIKWUATO/UMUNNEOCHI — As 2027 approaches, the conversation in Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency has shifted. It is no longer about who is running. It is about what has been lost, what is missing, and whether experience should now trump novelty.
At the center of this debate are two names: Barr. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, former Deputy Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, and the current occupant of the seat, Hon. Amobi Ogah.
The debate was reignited by a video from skit maker “I Go Yan”, who argued that Onyejeocha has “served too long” and should not return.
But that position does not hold water.
The Case For Experience
“Longevity without scandal is not a liability — it’s proof of pedigree,” Amalaha contended.
Critics of Onyejeocha, he noted, have failed to point to any record of poor performance during her years in the House. Instead, what the constituency has seen since 2023, according to constituents, is a vacuum.
The questions being asked in town halls and on the streets are direct:
What has changed in infrastructure? In health? In education? In legislation?
How many Bills has the current Rep member sponsored? How has he projected the welfare of his constituents?
For many, the verdict is blunt: “From every indication, he has not performed.”
‘This Is Not A Time For Experiments.’
Amalaha argued that Isuikwuato/Umunneochi needs more than fresh faces in 2027. It needs pedigree, contacts, institutional memory, and the ability to navigate the complex corridors of power in Abuja.
Lawmaking, he stressed, is not learned on the job alone. It requires experience to attract projects, influence budgets, and defend constituency interests at the highest levels.
“The moment demands people with pedigree because experience matters in lawmaking. Onyejeocha is out to rescue the constituency,” he asserts.
The Constitution, he added, places no limit on how long a qualified person can serve. What matters is performance and capacity.
A Challenge To Critics
Amalaha did not spare “I Go Yan”. He challenged the skit maker to “contest the seat if he believes he is popular, rather than hiding under the umbrella of a paymaster while claiming to fight in the interest of Isuikwuato as a son of the soil.”
“A sane mind talks about following the full rigour of the law, not sentiments. He should improve on his ambition to become a dry comedian and leave politics, where he has no fortune, no depth,” he stated.
The Bigger Picture
The 2027 election in Isuikwuato/Umunneochi is shaping up to be a referendum on representation. For a constituency searching for direction, the choice may come down to this: Continue experimenting, or return to tested experience.
For Amalaha and many constituents, the answer is clear.
