The political landscape of the Owan Federal Constituency shifted decisively this weekend as the former Deputy Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, Hon. Pally Iriase, formally threw his weight behind the candidacy of Dr. Ernest Afolabi Umakhihe for the 2027 House of Representatives seat.
The high-profile endorsement, which took place before an assembly of party stalwarts and community leaders, is being hailed as the “final nail in the coffin” for the third-term ambition of the incumbent, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere.
The Zoning Mandate and the ‘Owan Spirit’
Speaking on the development, Hon. Iriase emphasized that the endorsement of Dr. Umakhihe is not merely a personal preference but a defense of the long-standing zoning arrangement between Owan East and Owan West.
According to the internal power-sharing agreement designed to ensure equity and communal harmony, the seat is slated to rotate to Owan East, rendering any third-term bid by an incumbent from the alternate axis a violation of the “Owan Agenda.”
”The Owan spirit is built on fairness and mutual respect,” a source close to the Iriase camp stated. “Dr. Umakhihe represents the unanimous choice of a people tired of sit-tight politics. He is the bridge between our administrative excellence and our future political stability.”
Rejection of the ‘Third-Term’ Gambit
The endorsement effectively isolates Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, whose rumored “notorious third-term gambit” has faced stiff resistance from grassroots organizers and traditional institutions alike.
Critics argue that Ihonvbere’s reliance on “presidential influence” or Abuja-based power structures to force a third term runs counter to the democratic will of the local electorate.
Political analysts observe that the Owan people have “unanimously endorsed” Dr. Umakhihe—a retired Federal Permanent Secretary with a sterling record of service—as the only candidate capable of restoring the dignity of the constituency’s representation while adhering to the sacrosanct zoning pact.
Umakhihe: The People’s Consensus
Dr. Umakhihe, a PhD holder and Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants (FCA), is widely viewed as a “techno-sovereign” leader whose entry into the race has unified various factions.
His campaign, anchored on sustainable growth and institutional accountability, has gained rapid momentum following the collapse of the Ihonvbere campaign’s moral high ground.
”The era of forcing unpopular candidates on Owan through external pressure is over,” said a youth leader under the OYM/NCM banner. “Hon. Pally Iriase has spoken the mind of the people. We are moving forward with Dr. Umakhihe.”
A Call for Unity
With the heavyweight backing of Iriase and the collapse of the third-term narrative, the Umakhihe campaign is now calling for a “unified front” to ensure Owan East takes its rightful place in the 11th National Assembly.
As the 2027 race heats up, one thing is clear: the Owan people have sent a loud message to Abuja—the constituency is no longer for sale to the highest bidder or the most persistent “gambit,” but belongs to the candidate who respects the people’s agreement.
