Stakeholders from the Umunna bloc in Bende Federal Constituency, Abia State, have thrown their weight behind the 2027 re-election bid of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu.
Mr Kalu is seeking a third term as a House of Representatives member.
The stakeholders, who met during a solidarity rally in Bende, the council headquarters of Bende LGA, on Tuesday, said there is no zoning agreement in the area and that the people will not “replace experience with experiment in 2027.”
Leading the endorsement, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Bende North State Constituency, Orji Udeagha, said Bende has witnessed “quality representation” since Mr Kalu was elected.
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“We cannot substitute the man with the gavel for a greenhorn. We have seen quality representation, and we will not trade our gold for ashes,” he declared.
Mr Udeagha argued that equity favours Mr Kalu’s return to the House of Representatives in 2027.
He noted that the Umunna bloc held the seat for 16 consecutive years, from the late Mba Aja to Nnenna Ukeje.
According to him, it is only fair that the Ikwuishi bloc is now allowed to complete a similar duration through the Deputy Speaker.
He added that Mr Kalu had outperformed all previous representatives from Bende and needed support to continue his work.
“This is the first time Bende is seeing this level of representation. We cannot afford to go back,” Mr Udeagha added.
A former chairman of Bende LGA, Gabriel Okereke-Elendu, dismissed claims of a two-term zoning arrangement.
“When somebody comes today to talk about agreements, it baffles me. We have asked them to produce it, but nobody has produced even a sheet of paper,” he said.
Mr Okereke-Elendu stated that if any agreement existed, Mrs Ukeje, whom he identified as his sister, would not have served for 12 years.
He said any future zoning decision should be made after Mr Kalu completes 12 years, in consultation with stakeholders.
Other speakers, including another former Bende LGA chairman, Emmanuel Onwuchekwa; APC Women Leader Ijeoma Anyaele; Ndubisi Anyim; Chidebere Okoh; and Benson Uwakwe, echoed the same position.
They affirmed that no rotational agreement exists, and pledged total support for Mr Kalu.
They said Bende needs continuity and influence at the national level, listing Mr Kalu’s achievements to include road construction in all wards across Bende.
The stakeholders also affirmed that Mr Kalu had attracted two federal institutions to the area in one legislative year.
Other projects cited were rural electrification, youth employment in federal organisations and other empowerment programmes.
The leaders said these interventions had brought the dividends of democracy to the Bende people. They said that Bende would stand with experience, performance and national relevance.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the rally ended with a resolution to mobilise in large numbers for Mr Kalu’s return in 2027.