Agatu Youth Leader Lays Out Historical Account of Apa/Agatu Federal Constituency Zoning, Calls for New Stakeholder Agreement
*Agatu, Benue State – October 4, 2025* – The Convener/National President of the Agatu Indigenous Youth Association (AIYA), Comr. Ochokwunu Daniel Edor, has presented what he describes as an “honest opinion” on the history and practice of zoning in the Apa/Agatu Federal Constituency, urging stakeholders from both local governments to convene and formalize a new agreement.
In a statement issued on May 30th on his official Facebook page, Edor argued that while the Nigerian Constitution does not provide for zoning, “it is not out of place for two brothers having a patent right to something to have a dialogue on who takes it at a given time… for the sake of fairness and justice.”
*Historical Account Presented*
Edor traced the origin of the zoning discussion to a period when Agatu held the seat for 12 years under the late Engr. Solomon Agidani from Obagaji, who served three terms. According to Edor, Apa stakeholders met with Agatu stakeholders, particularly within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to request that Agatu cede the seat in the spirit of brotherhood.
He stated that key Agatu PDP figures agreed to the arrangement, which included a clause that when it was Apa’s turn, no Agatu candidate would contest, and vice versa when the turn returned to Agatu. At that time, PDP was the dominant party in the area, Edor noted.
The agreement, Edor said, paved the way for Engr. Ademu Entonu from Apa, who served two terms. Edor alleged that when Entonu sought a third term, despite the prior arrangement, he was given the PDP ticket again by the state party chairman who had witnessed the original understanding.
Edor also referenced the 2019 election cycle, noting that Omale Omale held the APC ticket. While acknowledging that the original PDP agreement might not bind a candidate under a different party, Edor said Omale was aware of the zoning understanding.
He further stated that Godday Samuel Odagboyi later won the seat on the Labour Party ticket after Entonu challenged the result in court, and suggested that some PDP insiders may have worked underground to honor the zoning arrangement by supporting Odagboyi.
*Criticism of Past Practice*
Edor questioned whether the original proponents of zoning were primarily seeking to remove Agidani from office rather than uphold equity, pointing to Entonu’s third-term bid as evidence that the agreement was not honored when it returned to Agatu’s turn.
He also referenced earlier periods when leaders from Okpaya and Igah held office, asking whether Agatu was given a turn “in the spirit of brotherhood” at that time, and answered “No.”
On the 2023 election, Edor said there was an understanding that Hon. Ojotu Ojema would complete the remaining single term for Agatu after Godday’s tenure, but noted that no Apa candidate contested against Ojema, which he used to question whether the zoning arrangement was respected in practice.
*Call for New Agreement*
Edor concluded that “Apa has never respected the acclaimed zoning agreement, in all the times made to be for Agatu,” and emphasized that the zoning was done under PDP, not by Apa/Agatu stakeholders as a whole.
He called for a meeting after the 2027 elections involving stakeholders, traditional rulers, and political leaders from both local governments, outside of party platforms, “to rewrite this zoning agreement and be enforced by all.”
“I do not write this for your approval or praise. I write reality in the matter, take it or leave it, it’s your opinion. I have passed my message. I am not writing as an Agatu son, I write as a constituency member of Apa/Agatu,” Edor stated.
*Signed:*
Comr. Ochokwunu Daniel Edor
Convener/National President
Agatu Indigenous Youth Association (AIYA)