Abia Not A Patriarchal State: A Must Read – By Chief John Okiyi Kalu

Abia Not A Patriarchal State:
A Must Read – By Chief John Okiyi Kalu

35 Legislative Seats. Zero Women. Abia Can and Must Do Better.

Every father who believes his daughter deserves the same opportunities as his son should care about who represents us in public office.

Many of my friends describe Abia as a patriarchal enclave. I quietly disagree, although I often avoid debating the issue. Yet the facts present a troubling contradiction. Today, among the 24 members of the Abia State House of Assembly, there is not a single woman. Likewise, our National Assembly delegation currently has no female representative.

That reality does not reflect who we are as a people.

Abia is one of the few states where enrolment in public schools is almost evenly split between boys and girls. Our daughters have consistently matched—and often surpassed—their male counterparts academically. Our parents, by and large, did not discriminate between sons and daughters when it came to education, and the results are evident across every profession.

History also speaks for itself. How many male elected public officials from Abia can truly surpass the legislative records of Senator Nkechi Nwaogu, Hon. Nkiruka Onyejeocha, Hon. Nnenna Elendu Ukeje, and Hon. Blessing Nwagba?

These women were legislative giants. They stood shoulder to shoulder with their male colleagues and earned national respect through competence, integrity and outstanding service. Their records remain benchmarks of effective representation.

It is therefore astonishing that, today, out of 35 elected legislative positions available to Abia at the state and federal levels—24 House of Assembly seats, 8 House of Representatives seats and 3 Senate seats—not one is occupied by a woman.

This is despite the fact that Abia women continue to distinguish themselves in business, academia, medicine, law, engineering, public service and virtually every other field of endeavour.

The good news is that 2027 presents an opportunity to correct this imbalance.

As of my last check, at least six women are seeking election to the Abia State House of Assembly, including the very cerebral Anastasia Uchenna, Gracelyn Oko, Princess Peace Nwaobilo, Dr. Ifeoma Nwachukwu, Victoria Onwubiko, Ehuchie Florence and Francesca Olisa. We are equally privileged to have the experienced and highly respected Dr. Nkechi Nwaogu, CON, seeking to represent us once again in the Senate.

These are women of proven competence and character. They deserve to be judged on their merit, not discounted because of their gender.

The 2027 general election comes at the perfect time for Abians to demonstrate that our commitment to gender equality goes beyond speeches. It is time to match our words with action.

There is no leadership responsibility that a capable daughter cannot perform as effectively as a capable son. If tradition requires certain ceremonial roles, our brothers or husbands can perform them. Leadership, however, is about vision, competence, integrity and service—not gender.

I therefore urge Abia youths, women and all voters to give our female candidates a fair opportunity. Support them, campaign for them, donate to them where you can and, most importantly, vote for those who have demonstrated the capacity to serve.

Many female candidates may not possess the financial resources available to some of their male counterparts. That is precisely why ordinary citizens must rally behind them. Even a contribution of ₦10,000 can make a meaningful difference to a grassroots campaign.

Let us seize this opportunity to end the embarrassing absence of women from Abia’s elected legislative offices.

For my part, I pledge to support every credible female candidate in Abia State. Tell me what I can realistically do to help, and I will gladly play my part.

I do this not merely for today’s candidates, but for the next generation—for my daughter as much as for my son.

2027 should be remembered as the year Abia sent our daughters back to Parliament.

—Nwandugbom JOK
07/08/2026