Igbere Monarchs To Kalu: Honour Agreement, Step Aside From 2027 Race

Traditional rulers in Igbere have urged Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, to withdraw from the 2027 House of Representatives contest for Bende Federal Constituency, insisting that an existing political understanding between the Ikwuisi and Umunna blocs should be respected.

The position was conveyed on Wednesday when Kalu met with members of the Igbere Traditional Rulers Council, led by His Royal Majesty, Eze Joseph Ukaoha Anyanta, the Enyi Ezeji of Ibinaukwu Igbere, during an engagement in Igbere, Bende Local Government Area of Abia State.

The monarchs used the occasion to reaffirm their position on the agreement reportedly reached between the Ikwuisi and Umunna blocs over the rotation of representation for Bende Federal Constituency.

Speaking during the meeting, Eze Anyanta said he was personally present at a meeting held at the palace of HRH Eze Patrick Ude, where the issue of an agreement concerning the federal constituency seat was discussed.

“I cannot say that we are not aware of the discussion and agreement so far. I was part of the traditional rulers who met at the palace of Eze Patrick Ude, and I can confirm that there was an agreement,” he said.

The traditional ruler subsequently appealed to the Deputy Speaker to reconsider his decision to remain in the 2027 race, stressing that there was still sufficient time for him to step aside and allow another candidate from the Umunna bloc to contest the seat.

According to him, Dr. Chima Anyaso, a member of the Labour Party from the Umunna bloc, should be allowed to represent Bende Federal Constituency in accordance with the understanding between the two blocs.

“It is not too late to withdraw from the race and allow our son from Umunna to represent the people of Bende Federal Constituency come 2027,” Eze Anyanta said.

The traditional rulers maintained that political agreements, particularly those reached to foster peaceful power rotation and equitable representation, should not be discarded.

They stressed that honouring agreements remained critical to preserving peace, trust and unity among the various communities and political blocs that make up Bende.

The intervention by the monarchs is expected to add a new dimension to the emerging political contest ahead of the 2027 Bende Federal Constituency election, with the issue of the alleged Ikwuisi-Umunna arrangement increasingly becoming a subject of public debate.

The traditional rulers, however, urged all parties to approach the matter with maturity and mutual respect, maintaining that the overriding interest should be the peace, unity and development of Bende.