Umunna-Nsulu Agog as Atuma Bags Senatorial Endorsement Ahead of 2027

By Charity Uwakwe

Umunna-Nsulu residents have thrown their weight behind Emeka Atuma’s 2027 senatorial ambition, declaring their support amid calls for better representation and development in Abia Central.

It was a red-letter day yesterday at Umunna-Nsulu, in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area of Abia State, as the Umunna-Nsulu Political Forum unanimously endorsed Rep. Emeka Atuma as its preferred candidate for the Abia Central Senatorial District in the forthcoming 2027 general election.

Atuma arrived alongside the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Eric Opah, and other party candidates to a warm reception, with cultural and modern musical groups entertaining the crowd. The atmosphere was filled with excitement as residents welcomed the visitors with songs and accolades.

Speaking at the event, the Chairman of the Umunna-Nsulu Political Forum, Chief Chijioke Ozems, said the forum was not established out of selfish ambition but was born out of pain, prolonged neglect and “the cry of our people for good leadership.”

He said:

“For years, Umunna-Nsulu has been rich in people, rich in talent, rich in votes, but poor in dividends of democracy. Our sons and daughters have been used during elections and abandoned after elections.

“We sat down, our elders, our youths, our women, and we asked: When will Umunna-Nsulu speak with one voice? That question gave birth to this Forum. We came together, not as individuals, but as Umunna — one blood, one family, one destiny.”

Ozems said the forum had resolved to support candidates with good development plans, irrespective of their positions, through votes, prayers and resources.

“We are here to mobilise, to sensitise, and to empower our people politically. We are here to ensure that our votes count, and that our votes bring development to our land,” he added.

The forum also assured the candidates of its full support, expressing confidence that the APC would record victories across all levels in the state.

In his response, Atuma thanked the people of Umunna-Nsulu for the warm reception and their decision to adopt him as their preferred senatorial candidate.

He described the emergence of their son, Dr. Eric Opah, as the APC governorship candidate as an act of God, noting that his emergence was divinely orchestrated.

“It’s evident that the mighty is being raised from the body of the weak, and that is what is happening in the land of Umunna-Nsulu today because God’s hands are upon your son,” he said.

Atuma expressed confidence that Opah would not only contest the governorship election but would also emerge victorious, with the support of the ruling party at the federal level.

He said:

“A party that is governing Nigeria and will govern Nigeria again in 2027. He won’t be a governor who will stand by the door and plead for acceptance, because he will be among those receiving people.”

He further expressed confidence that the APC would retain power at the federal level in the 2027 general election.

Continuing, Atuma said:

“A lot of people are craving to be the gubernatorial candidate for our party, both those ruling the state today in Abia. If they were given the slightest opportunity, they would have sneaked into this party, but we refused because we intended to change somebody.

“We don’t want those who pass through the backdoor.”

He called on the people to support the president of the federal Republic of Nigeria in his reelection bid, Opah’s governorship ambition and other APC candidates.

He explained that having an APC governor in Abia would make it easier for him and other elected representatives to work towards developing the state.

“I don’t want to be a member of a National Assembly without a governor in his state. It will be a disaster. You may never understand. I want to complement and supplement the efforts of the governor in developing the state.

“I don’t want the development of the state to rest upon me. That’s why we have to work hard to ensure that Eric becomes the governor,” he said.

Atuma urged the people to intensify grassroots mobilisation to ensure the APC’s victory across all five levels of the election.

Meanwhile, members of the crowd sang and hailed Atuma for his past representation, expressing hope that his emergence as senator would bring them more benefits through what they described as effective and redefined representation.

The event also featured a moment of silence in honour of the late Prof. Eleazar Ikonne, the 2023 governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). His sudden death, which occurred prior to the 2023 election, remains a subject of concern and discussion among many people.

The gathering thereafter prayed for God to grant the departed eternal rest.