Mr. Abah Okoriko, a young civil servant and All Progressives Congress (APC) aspirant, has strongly rejected any push for consensus arrangement in the race for the Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency seat in Benue State.

He declared his intention to contest fully for the House of Representatives ticket. Okoriko believes the party should allow internal democracy so that the best candidate can emerge.

In an interview after the purchase of form, Okoriko criticised the performance of previous representatives from the constituency, popularly known as Enone. He said they have not done well enough and promised to bring fresh ideas and better representation if given the chance.

He expressed confidence in the current APC leadership and urged the party to do the right thing by allowing open competition.

When asked how he plans to compete as a civil servant who is still on government payroll, Okoriko replied that a “deep pocket” is not what the people need. He pointed out the long-standing zoning issues in the constituency, noting that the current arrangement has not been fair to all the three local governments, especially Okpokwu which has waited for many years without producing a representative.

Okoriko’s bold stance has brought attention to the tension within the APC between those who prefer consensus and those who want open primaries.

He believes the people should be allowed to choose their representative freely. His decision to challenge the incumbent is also testing the strength of the existing zoning formula in the area.

As preparations for the 2027 elections continue, Abah Okoriko’s aspiration has sparked fresh discussions in Benue politics. Many young people see him as a new voice bringing fresh energy to the race. His campaign will likely focus on performance, fairness in zoning, and improved representation for the people of Ado, Okpokwu, and Ogbadibo.