Apa/Agatu Lawmaker Under Fire as Group Brands Him “Wasted Slot” Amid Rising Insecurity

A pressure group, Apa/Agatu Democrats, has launched a scathing attack on the member representing Apa/Agatu Federal Constituency of Benue State, Ojema Ojotu, accusing him of legislative inertia, political irrelevance, and failure to speak up amid worsening insecurity and killings in his constituency and across Benue State.

In a strongly worded statement, the group alleged that the lawmaker, now three years into his tenure in the House of Representatives, has not sponsored a single bill and has largely remained what it described as a “bench warmer” in the Green Chamber. The group said this lack of legislative output underscores what it called a grave misrepresentation of the Apa/Agatu people at the National Assembly.

The statement, signed by the group’s secretary, Benedict Ekoja, also faulted Ojotu for his silence in the face of recurring violent attacks, communal clashes, and killings that have continued to ravage Apa, Agatu, and other parts of Benue State.

“At a time when our people are being killed and displaced almost weekly, our representative has been conspicuously absent—both in voice and action,” Ekoja said. “He has failed to consistently condemn the insecurity in his constituency or raise sustained alarms on the floor of the House. This silence is painful and unacceptable.”

Ekoja further claimed that the only motion ever associated with Ojotu on the killings in the constituency did not originate from him, but was allegedly initiated and drafted with the backing of a political ally, Barrister Joy Okpainmo, who is believed to be nursing ambitions to contest the seat in 2027.

“Our findings show that even the lone motion credited to him was not his independent effort,” Ekoja alleged. “Barrister Joy Okpainmo reportedly encouraged him to move the motion and assisted in drafting it. That alone raises serious questions about his capacity and commitment as a federal lawmaker.”

Beyond legislative performance, the Apa/Agatu Democrats also raised concerns over constituency development, noting that despite “tons of money” allocated for constituency projects since Ojotu’s inauguration, there is little or nothing on ground to justify the expenditure.

“Year after year, huge sums are budgeted in the name of constituency projects, yet Apa and Agatu have nothing tangible to show for it,” Ekoja said. “No visible projects, no lasting impact, no legacy. This is why we describe his tenure as a wasted slot.”

The group warned that continued underperformance at the National Assembly has weakened the constituency’s voice at a critical time when Benue State is grappling with deepening security and humanitarian challenges.

“The Apa/Agatu Federal Constituency deserves active, vocal, and effective representation,” Ekoja added. “What we have instead is indifference, absence, and failure.”

Calling on young people across the constituency to take a stand, the group urged voters to reject Ojotu in future elections and support credible alternatives capable of delivering meaningful representation.

“We are appealing especially to the teeming youths of Apa and Agatu to rise and reclaim their mandate,” Ekoja said. “This is not about bitterness; it is about survival, dignity, and development. Apa/Agatu must correct this mistake and choose better representation.”

The Apa/Agatu Democrats maintained that their intervention was driven by civic responsibility and a desire to restore effective leadership, insisting that continued silence and inaction from elected officials only embolden insecurity and deepen underdevelopment in the constituency.