By Leonard Okachie
Umuahia, April 16, 2026
A former Commissioner for Finance and Economic Planning in Abia, Dr Philips Nto, has called on old politicians in the state to quit the stage for the younger generation to encourage greater youth participation in politics.
Nto’s call is contained in a statement issued in Umuahia, after two pressure groups, the Abia Christian Youth Assembly and the Bende Political Forum, visited him.
The groups had urged him to contest the Abia North Senatorial seat in 2027 on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He argued that the continued dominance of the “old brigade” in Abia’s political space was denying the youths the opportunity to contribute their quota to Nigeria’s development.
Nto cited Sen. Orji Kalu as one of the old politicians, saying: “His Excellency was in the 1999 class of governors with President Bola Tinubu.
“Before then, he had been a member of the House of Representatives.
“He is now a two-term senator. He ought to move higher or quit politics completely so that younger people like us will be reporting to him.”
While acknowledging that long-serving political players have a democratic right to contest for any office, Nto said they should be guided by a moral obligation to give way to the youths.
He said he was humbled by the call by the two groups urging him to run for the Abia North Senatorial seat in 2027.
Nto, a former Provost of Abia State College of Education, Technical, Arochukwu, said he would seek the face of God before responding to the requests.
“Before David confronted Goliath, he openly declared his trust in God while the Philistine relied on weaponry and might.
“Now that these requests have come to my doorstep and no longer through social media, I will painstakingly consider it by seeking the face of God,” he said.
He assured the groups that he would make his decision public after consulting with God, his family, and associates.
Earlier, the Spokesmen for the three groups, Prince Iroabueke, Divine Chibuike, and Rev. Okoro Okeke, told Nto they were at his residence to pledge support for his senatorial bid.
Okeke, Chairman of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, Abia North, said the combination of Dr Benjamin Kalu as governor and Nto as senator would greatly benefit the people of Abia North.
“These are two winning tickets for Abia. We also support our leader and President, Bola Tinubu, for 2027,” Okeke said.
The groups urged Abia youths to “identify with their kind”, by voting massively for the APC to retire the old brigade from politics in 2027.
