“Enough Is Enough”: Abia Women Protest Senator Orji Kalu Over Lack of Projects

Tensions rose in Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia State yesterday as residents, led by women and youth groups, staged a protest against Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, representing Abia North. The demonstrators accused the senator of failing to deliver a single notable development project in the area.

Protesters carried placards reading “OUK, leave us alone,” “Enough is enough,” and “Show us your senatorial projects in Ohafia LGA,” while chanting slogans condemning the lawmaker’s alleged neglect. Some reports noted that provocative chants were also used during the demonstration.

The protest follows an earlier declaration by the Ohafia Youth Association (OYA), which labeled Senator Kalu persona non grata. The youth group claims that during the 2023 Abia North Senatorial election, Kalu referred to Ohafia as an “IPOB zone,” a designation they say triggered heavy security presence, voter intimidation, and widespread disenfranchisement.

Chika Nnate, OYA’s Public Relations Officer, told journalists at Zone 9 Police Headquarters in Umuahia that the IPOB label discouraged thousands of eligible voters from participating in the election. According to Nnate, “The biggest ward in Abia North, Isiama Ward, did not record a single vote, yet results were announced in places where it favoured him. More than 150,000 residents could not vote due to security concerns arising from this designation.”

Beyond electoral grievances, the youth association accused the senator of failing to support local development. “We do not have a single visible project from Senator Orji Uzor Kalu in the whole of Ohafia—no roads, no empowerment programs, no meaningful support,” Nnate added.

The protest also came in response to a police petition filed by Kalu against the youth association for alleged cyberbullying. Members of the group had previously appeared at Zone 9 Command but returned in larger numbers, joined by elderly residents, insisting their stance remained unchanged. A scheduled meeting with the senator did not take place, as Kalu was reportedly absent. Police authorities advised the group to return to Ohafia, promising a new meeting date, but the youths refused, insisting that any dialogue should be held locally rather than in Umuahia.

Kalu’s camp has rejected all allegations, describing the protest as the action of a narrow interest group. A statement from his office emphasized that the senator’s record of representation and legislative advocacy continues to resonate with residents across Abia North.