Ahead of the 2027 general elections, political activities have continued to gather momentum in Bende Local Government Area of Abia State, as supporters from the Ikwuisii bloc on Tuesday, staged a solidarity march in support of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, insisting that equity demands he be allowed to complete another four-year term.
The demonstration comes amid growing debate over the representation of Bende Federal Constituency, with the Ikwuisii bloc maintaining that there has never been a binding rotational agreement for the House of Representatives seat.
The protesters argued that Bende Federal Constituency comprises two blocs, Umunna and Ikwuisii and maintained that while Umunna had occupied the seat for four consecutive terms spanning 16 years, Ikwuisii had so far served only three terms totaling 12 years. They contended that fairness requires Ikwuisii to complete an equal 16-year tenure before any discussion on zoning or rotation can be entertained.
Beyond the issue of equity, the supporters said Benjamin Kalu’s performance over the past eight years had distinguished him from previous occupants of the office, citing infrastructure development, youth employment, empowerment programmes, restoration of electricity in communities, road projects, and the attraction of federal institutions to Bende.
Addressing journalists, the APC candidate for Bende North State Constituency, Chief Orji Udeagha, described Kalu as a valuable asset whose legislative experience and national influence should not be sacrificed. He argued that replacing the Deputy Speaker with a first-time lawmaker would amount to abandoning experience for uncertainty, adding that Bende had continued to benefit from Kalu’s position in the National Assembly.
Udeagha who gave a background of the political trajectory of Bende said no existing zoning in Bende but argued that the way it is done, if one bloc goes this time, the other would go the next time, stating that Hon Mba Aja went for Umunna bloc, while Hon Nnamdi Njoku from Ikwuisii represented the constituency from 1999-2003.
According to him, this was the rotational procedure until the last representative, Hon Nnenna Ukeje from Umunna came on board and went for straight three terms of 12 years. He said equity demands Ikwuisii to complete their third term.
“Rt Hon Benjamin Kalu has only done two tenures. Where is the equity?”, he queried.
He added that the two tenures of the Deputy Speaker have superceded that of all the House of Representatives members put together in terms of achievements.
Udeagha disclosed that Bende cannot afford to loose their gold for ashes, describing Rt Hon Benjamin Kalu as their gold.
He equally noted that the Deputy Speaker has made a landmark achievements in Nigeria and Bende in particular, attracting two federal institutions to the area , stressing that in the coming days, rural dwellers, especially artisans will be empowered financially.
“Based on these glowing impacts, Bende constituents decided to come out en messe to support the Deputy Speaker’s third term bid. We want impact. He occupies a sensitive position. Bende have decided to vote him again and we will send him back to House of Reps”.
The former Bende Local Government Area chairman and stakeholder of the APC, Chief Emmanuel Onwuchekwa, and Ndubuisi Anyim, echoed similar views, insisting that there was no existing agreement limiting any bloc to two terms. They maintained that the political history of Bende clearly showed that previous representatives had served beyond two tenures, making the current agitation for rotation inconsistent with past practice.
They countered the position of a traditional ruler who said there was an agreement of two tenures each, adding that if there was any known agreement, Hon Nnenna Ukeje wouldn’t have gone three times.
Other supporters, Chief Chidiebere Okoh from Item ward B, Joshua Okpai Kalu from Igbere and the Bende APC woman leader, Ijeoma Anyaele, also rejected claims that power should immediately return to the Umunna bloc, insisting that the principle of equity favours Ikwuisii until both blocs have served an equal number of years.
Similarly, Benson Uwakwe, Chief John Okezie from Uzuakoli and Chief Okezie Usim, further argued that Kalu’s legislative achievements, constituency projects and empowerment initiatives had transformed communities across Bende, making him the preferred candidate for another term. They maintained that his current national position as Deputy Speaker had enhanced the constituency’s visibility and attracted greater federal presence and they stand on experience, competence, endorsing him for a third term. “We are standing for Rt Hon Benjamin Kalu”.
They challenged proponents of the said agreement to produce documentary evidence, insisting that no formal agreement had ever existed on the rotation of the House of Representatives seat in Bende.
Also speaking, an indigene of Itumbuzo Ward, Dr. Kalu Pascal, said he and members of his community attended the gathering to dismiss claims that there was an existing agreement on the rotation of the Bende Federal Constituency seat.
According to him, no such agreement exists, insisting that any discussion on zoning can only take place after both blocs have enjoyed equal years of representation.
“I will represent Bende Federal Constituency before Chima Anyaso because his clan has already had sufficient years in office”, he said.
Dr. Pascal further argued that since 2019, the constituency has witnessed significant development under the current representation, adding that replacing an experienced lawmaker with a first-time aspirant would not be in the best interest of the people.
In the same vein, Alvan Egeonu reaffirmed his support for the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, insisting that he should be allowed to complete his tenure.
He described Kalu as a leader whose representation extends beyond Bende Federal Constituency, noting that his influence is felt across Abia State, Nigeria, and internationally.
“We cannot lower the standard we have attained by choosing inexperience over experience. Chima Anyaso should step down. Benjamin Kalu has attracted two federal institutions to the constituency, and we cannot sacrifice such performance for nothing”, Egeonu said.
He maintained that both equity and capacity favour Benjamin Kalu, adding that the people of Bende have resolved to support his continued representation.
Another former Chairman of Bende Local Government Area, Chief Gabriel Okereke-Elendu, also traced the political history of the constituency, maintaining that no binding zoning formula had ever governed elections into the House of Representatives. He argued that the equity principle favours the Ikwuisii bloc completing 16 years in office before discussions on future power-sharing arrangements.
He further maintained that while political stakeholders could in the future agree on a consensus arrangement, no such agreement currently exists, stressing that Benjamin Kalu deserved another term based on both equity and performance.
Meanwhile, the stakeholders reaffirmed their support for the Deputy Speaker’s re-election in 2027, expressing confidence that the people of Bende would return him to the House of Representatives for another term.
