A front runner for the house of representatives seat for Apa/Agatu Federal Constituency in the 2027 national assembly elections, Barr. Joy Okpainmo Ameh, has strongly advocated for a united front for a candidate from Apa Local Government Area of Benue State ahead of the election.
Hon. Ojotu Ojema who currently represents the federal constituency is serving out Agatu terms and is expected to pass the mantle to someone from Apa in 2027.
Barr. Okpainmo, while delivering her speech at a town hall meeting organised by Apa Youths Arise Movement for Apa sons and daughters in Abuja on Saturday, said at this crucial moment in the political phase of Apa/Agatu Federal Constituency, unity was not just desirable but essential for the actualisation of Apa dream and aspiration to succeed Hon. Ojema.
Barr. Joy, a seasoned lawyer with vast experience in legislative drafting, said Apa was blessed with educated, knowledgeable, and experienced individuals who have the capacity and capability to contribute meaningfully to the leadership of the Apa/Agatu. She said the local government area was ready to mount the saddle of leadership in the federal constituency, with its highly experienced and intellectual minds.
The House of Representatives hopeful charged all sons and daughters of Apa to be united in strength, voice and aspirations, to present Apa as a mature, dignified, and organized community.
The speech read in full;
“I stand before you today with a deep sense of responsibility and pride, pride in who we are as a people, pride in our history, and pride in the enormous human capacity that Apa Local Government Area possesses. We have gathered here today to discuss unity among our interest groups, unity among our youths, unity of purpose, and unity of vision. At this crucial moment in the political phase of the Apa/Agatu Federal Constituency, unity is not just desirable; it is essential.
“THE CONSTITUTIONAL FOUNDATION OF UNITY
“Our 1999 Constitution places unity at the heart of national progress. Section 14(3) reminds us of the federal character principle, which ensures fairness and balanced representation, stating clearly that:
““Government shall promote national unity and ensure that there shall be no predominance of persons from a few states or from a few ethnic or other sectional groups.”
“Section 15 further mandates the promotion of national integration, emphasizing cooperation, mutual respect, and the reduction of sectional barriers. These constitutional provisions guide us not toward division, but toward collaboration; not toward rivalry, but toward collective strength.
“THE CHALLENGE BEFORE US
“Today, we see tremendous interest among our youths to participate in governance. This is a beautiful and welcome development. It means our generation is ready, awake, and our generation is aware. But multiple ambitions, if not harmonized, can divide rather than strengthen us. Fragmentation weakens any community’s negotiating power. Unity amplifies it.
“Our challenge, therefore, is simple: how do we align our energies, our brains, our competencies, and our aspirations toward one collective purpose – progress for Apa?
“Let me state this clearly: Apa Local Government Area is abundantly blessed with competent, capacitated, and experienced people capable of leading the Apa/Agatu Federal Constituency with excellence. Anyone who says otherwise is not only being unfair; they are disrespecting our collective intelligence, our heritage, and our contributions to national development. Such a claim is an insult, an insult to our elders, to our professionals, our scholars, to our youths, and to our entire community. Worse still, such a person clearly does not have the interest of the federal constituency at heart. They are driven not by truth, not by equity, not by fairness, but by personal interest.
“AN EXAMPLE OF OUR COMPETENCE
“In Apa, we have sons and daughters who have excelled in various fields – law, policy making, public administration, education, engineering, medicine, security, and more. Permit me, with humility, to use myself as an example – not out of self‑praise, but to demonstrate the level of human capital that the Apa Local Government has produced. I, Barrister Mrs. Joy Okpainmo, have served for many years in the National Assembly as a public servant. As a lawyer and legislative draftsman, I have worked closely with distinguished law and policy makers under the guidance of the Senator representing the Benue South Senatorial District. Through this office:
- I have drafted various legislative documents that have shaped national policy, contributed to bills that are today part of our national laws.
- I made the relevant draft Bill and legislative documents that translated into the Act that established the North Central Development Commission (NCDC), a monumental institution already making an impact and celebrated across our geo‑political zone.
“If, with my modest background, I have been privileged to contribute to national policy and development at this level, then how can anyone say Apa lacks competent people? How can anyone claim that Apa, a local government blessed with highly educated, knowledgeable, and experienced individuals, does not have the capacity to contribute meaningfully to the leadership of the Apa/Agatu Federal Constituency? Such a claim is not only false; it is deeply misleading.
“APA IS READY
“Apa is ready, not because one person says so, not because one group believes so, but because our history, our achievements, and our human resources prove it beyond doubt. We have the people. We have the experience. We have the intellectual firepower. We have the administrative exposure. We have the legislative understanding. We have the will.
“What remains is unity, unity to coordinate our strengths, unify our voices, harmonize our aspirations, and present our constituency as a mature, dignified, and organized community.
“THE CALL FOR UNITY
“Dear Apa youths, the future belongs to us. But the future will not wait for a divided people. Let us talk. Let us listen. Let us reason together. Let us build consensus. Let us elevate Apa progress above individual ambition. When we unite, we become respected. When we unite, we become stronger. When we unite, we are unstoppable.
“In the spirit of the Nigerian Constitution, in the spirit of fairness, and in the spirit of community progress, Apa must stand together. We must affirm our competence, protect our dignity, collaborate intelligently, and think beyond today but work for the generations yet unborn.
“Apa has what it takes. Apa has always had what it takes. And with unity, Apa will take its rightful place.
“Thank you.”
Barr. Joy Okpainmo Media Office