Traditional rulers in Bende Local Government Area of Abia State have released documents detailing a 2019 political rotation agreement between Bende North, known as Umunna, and Bende South, known as Ikwu-Isii, over representation in the House of Representatives.
The documents were made public during meetings of the Bende Council of Traditional Rulers on Thursday, October 8, and the Bende North Council of Traditional Rulers on Friday, October 9, 2026.
The documents include a Memorandum of Understanding on Political Rotation, Equity and Peace, as well as a proposal dated February 4, 2019, bearing the signatures of Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, and Hon. Emma Trumps Eke, who was identified as Director-General of Kalu’s campaign council at the time.
The memorandum, read by HRH Ebiri Okoro at Friday’s meeting, outlines an arrangement intended to ensure equitable rotation of the Bende Federal Constituency seat between the two blocs.
Titled “Bende Federal Constituency Memorandum of Understanding on Political Rotation, Equity and Peace, Effective from the 2019 Electoral Cycle,” the document identifies Bende North as comprising Item, Igbere, Alayi and Ugwueke/Ezeukwu, while Bende South comprises Bende, Itumbauzo, Umuhu-Ezechi, Ozuitem, Uzuakoli and Umuimenyi/Nkpa.
Article Four provides for two consecutive four-year terms for the bloc occupying the seat, subject to the Constitution, electoral laws, party processes and the decision of the electorate. It further states that the opportunity would subsequently rotate to Bende North (Umunna), adding that no individual, community or political party should regard the seat as a permanent entitlement.
The memorandum also commits both blocs to peaceful dispute resolution and rejects violence, threats, communal hostility and other actions capable of undermining unity and peaceful coexistence.
The separate proposal dated February 4, 2019, titled “Proposal Regarding Representation and Rotational Understanding in Bende Federal Constituency,” records Kalu’s stated intention to seek representation while acknowledging the contributions of Bende North.
It states that the proposed arrangement would allow Bende South two terms, after which the opportunity would return to Bende North.
Speaking at the meeting, Chairman of the Abia North Council of Traditional Rulers, HRH Eze Uwakwe Ukaegbu, said he was among those who signed the agreement and described the release of the documents as vindication.
“I want to say today that I have been vindicated. Those who sponsored touts to say that I lied should go and ask God for forgiveness. I, Eze Uwakwe, stand for the truth; I can never tell lies,” he said.
Ukaegbu maintained that the documents supported Bende North’s claim to the constituency seat under the rotation arrangement.
“With these documents, it is the turn of Bende North to represent Bende Federal Constituency,” he declared.
Also speaking, His Royal Majesty, Eze Joseph Ukaoha Anyanta, the Enyi Ezeji of Ibinaukwu, commended Ukaegbu for making the documents available. He noted that traditional rulers, like kings in biblical accounts, had a responsibility to promote stability and peaceful coexistence in their communities.
The release of the documents comes amid renewed attention to the rotation understanding and its implications for political representation in Bende Federal Constituency ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu is yet to react to the said documents as at Press time.
