The question of who should represent a people in a democratic setting is never merely about ambition; it is fundamentally about justice, balance, and the preservation of collective harmony. In the context of the Northern Senatorial District of Cross River State, the argument for zoning the next senatorial seat to the Obudu/Bekwarra/Obanliku (OBO) Federal Constituency, specifically microzoned to Bekwarra, rests solidly on principles of equity, fairness, and party ideology, further strengthened by the provisions of Article 7(xi) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Constitution, which explicitly condemns all forms of suppression and marginalization and the compelling candidacy of Rt. Hon. Legor Idagbor, whose track record and acceptability present a unifying pathway forward.
The imbalance between the Ogoja/Yala and OBO Federal Constituency calls for deliberate correction as microzoning the senatorial ticket to Bekwarra is not an act of charity, but an act of justice which aligns directly with the provisions of the party and the expectations of the people. To ignore this constitutional directive would not only undermine the party’s moral authority but also risk alienating a significant segment of its support base.
Demographically, the OBO constituency commands considerable numerical strength as elections are, at their core, a game of numbers, and any serious political strategy must take this into account as the collective voting power of Obudu, Bekwarra, and Obanliku, provides a formidable base that, if properly mobilized, can decisively influence electoral outcomes.
However, numbers alone are not sufficient; they must be matched with a sense of belonging and fairness as when a people feel consistently overlooked, their enthusiasm wanes, their political engagement diminishes, conversely, when they are given a fair stake, they become more invested in the system’s success.
It is within this framework that the candidacy of Legor Idagbor received endorsements during his consultations with the critical stakeholders in the OBO Federal Constituency. Rt. Hon. Idagbor has, over time, demonstrated quality through verifiable developmental projects spread across the political wards in the OBO constituency. His interventions in infrastructure, community development, and empowerment initiatives are not abstract claims but tangible realities acknowledged by the people themselves.
Popularity in politics is often fleeting, but acceptability rooted in performance is enduring. As such, his widespread endorsement by the OBO people has not come as a surprise. In a district where unity is paramount, such a candidate offers not just representation but cohesion as his emergence would therefore satisfy both the moral imperative of zoning and the practical need for electability.
History provides sobering lessons on the consequences of neglecting these principles. In various parts of Nigeria, the refusal to adhere to zoning arrangements has often led to internal party crises, voter apathy, and even electoral defeat. For instance, in several state-level contests, dominant factions that sidelined minority blocs in candidate selection faced backlash that fractured party structures and handed victory to opposition forces. These outcomes underscore a simple truth: injustice within breeds vulnerability without.
Similarly, at the national level, moments where perceived marginalization took root have often coincided with heightened political tensions and weakened institutional trust. The lesson is clear, equity is not merely an ethical choice, but a strategic necessity because political systems that fail to balance competing interests inevitably pay a price, whether through instability, loss of legitimacy, or outright electoral collapse.
Applying these lessons to the Northern Senatorial District, the path forward becomes evident. Zoning the senatorial seat to the OBO Federal Constituency, microzoning it to Bekwarra, and presenting a candidate of proven capacity like Rt. Hon. Legor Idagbor represents a convergence of justice, strategy, and pragmatism and addresses historical imbalances, leverages demographic strength, and positions the party for electoral success.
Ultimately, politics is about people; their aspirations, their grievances, and their hopes for inclusion, which when respected, democracy thrives; when they are ignored, it falters. The call to zone the next senatorial seat accordingly is therefore not just a political demand but a moral appeal, one that seeks to align practice with principle, and ambition with fairness.
John Aboh
Public Affairs Analyst
Ogoja Local Government Area
Cross Rivers State
