Frontline APC House of Representatives aspirant for Ikwuano/Umuahia North/Umuahia South Federal Constituency, Dr. Martina Otu (Akajiaku), has clarified her position amid ongoing political discussions surrounding zoning and consensus arrangements within the party.

According to her, choosing to respect the collective decision and sentiments of party stakeholders should not be interpreted as stepping down or withdrawing from the race.

Dr. Martina maintained that there is a clear difference between showing loyalty and respect to party leadership and officially exiting an electoral contest, stressing that any genuine stepdown arrangement must be transparent, properly negotiated, and structurally defined to protect the interests of every aspirant involved.

She argued that while stakeholders may prefer zoning the ticket for political balance and continuity, there must also be a concrete internal mechanism for managing the aspirations, sacrifices, and expectations of other contestants within the process.

The APC aspirant further noted that a formal stepdown process should be explicit, clearly communicated, and strategically handled in a manner that strengthens internal party cohesion, prevents misunderstanding, and promotes fairness among all members.

Political observers say her clarification has opened a fresh layer of debate within the constituency, particularly on the distinction between political loyalty, consensus building, and outright withdrawal from a democratic contest.

As consultations and alignments continue ahead of the party’s internal processes, one question now dominates political conversations across the constituency:

Can true party unity be achieved when consensus arrangements are not backed by clear, inclusive, and transparent agreements for all aspirants involved?

©2026: Martina Martins Media Team