The traditional ruler of Igbere and 3rd Deputy Chairman of the Abia State Council of Traditional Rulers, HRH Eze Uwakwe Ukaegbu, has said traditional rulers in Bende Local Government Area had agreed that the Bende Federal Constituency seat should return to Bende North (Umunna Bloc) after the completion of the current tenure of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, in 2027.
Eze Ukaegbu made the assertion on Thursday when the Labour Party’s candidate for the Bende Federal Constituency, Dr. Chima Anyaso, paid him a courtesy visit at his palace in Igbere.
According to the monarch, the decision was reached through a written agreement endorsed by traditional rulers across Bende to preserve the principle of rotational representation between Bende South and Bende North.
He disclosed that he was among the monarchs who signed the agreement, alongside other traditional rulers, noting that about 65 monarchs from Bende were involved in the process.
“I was part of those who signed the document. Eze Akaliro, Patrick Ude and I, alongside another traditional ruler, signed the agreement on behalf of the traditional institution,” he said.
Although he said he was yet to locate his personal copy of the document, Eze Ukaegbu expressed confidence that it would be found, insisting that the understanding reached by the traditional rulers remained valid.
The royal father maintained that, based on the agreement, 2027 should produce a representative from Bende North, stressing that the traditional rulers remain committed to the rotational arrangement.
His comments come amid growing political consultations and realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections in Abia State.
