Political tension is mounting in Bende Federal Constituency of Abia State following the circulation of a viral video in which the Traditional Ruler of Akanu Item, HRH Eze Innocent Mba, was allegedly heard making threatening remarks over the 2027 general elections.
The incident reportedly occurred on Saturday during a courtesy visit by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, to traditional rulers of Umunna extraction in Bende Federal Constituency. The gathering was attended by royal fathers, APC stakeholders and other dignitaries.
In the widely circulated video, the monarch was allegedly heard warning that residents of Akanu Item who fail to vote for the Deputy Speaker in the 2027 election would face dire consequences. He was also alleged to have declared that anyone in his community who voted against Benjamin Kalu “would die,” while stating that he was not afraid of being dethroned over his comments.
The alleged remarks have sparked widespread reactions across the constituency, with many residents, community leaders and civil society groups expressing concern that such statements could create fear among voters and heighten political tension ahead of the elections.
Some stakeholders described the comments as inconsistent with the non-partisan role traditionally expected of royal fathers and called on the monarch to publicly retract the alleged statements.
Reacting to the development, the leadership of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Bende Local Government Chapter, condemned the alleged remarks and called on all political actors, traditional rulers and their supporters to exercise restraint in the interest of peace and democratic stability. The youth body stressed that elections should be conducted in an atmosphere free from threats, intimidation and fear, urging all stakeholders to respect the rights of citizens to freely choose candidates of their choice.
A community leader warned that any outbreak of violence linked to the comments would be unacceptable, urging relevant authorities to take proactive measures to preserve peace in the constituency.
Youth leaders also appealed to political actors and traditional institutions to promote issue-based campaigns rather than rhetoric capable of intimidating voters.
Observers noted that Section 95 of the Electoral Act, 2022 prohibits acts of violence, threats and intimidation capable of influencing or coercing voters during elections. They also recalled previous appeals by the Abia State Council of Traditional Rulers urging monarchs to remain impartial and uphold their responsibility as custodians of peace.
As of the time of filing this report, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu had not publicly addressed the specific remarks attributed to the traditional ruler. Similarly, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Nigeria Police Force in Abia State had not issued any official statements on the matter.
Meanwhile, civil society organisations have called for a thorough investigation, insisting that any form of electoral intimidation, if established, should be addressed in accordance with the law to safeguard democratic principles, protect voters’ rights and strengthen public confidence in the electoral process.
