Traditional rulers in Bende Local Government Area of Abia State have released documents detailing a 2019 political rotation agreement between Bende North, also known as the Umunna bloc, and Bende South, known as the Ikwu-Isii bloc, on the House of Representatives seat for Bende Federal Constituency ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Chairman of the Abia North Council of Traditional Rulers, HRH Eze Uwakwe Ukaegbu, said the agreement provided for Bende North to produce the next representative of the constituency following the completion of the agreed tenure for Bende South.
The documents were made public during a meeting of the Bende Council of Traditional Rulers on Thursday, October 8, and another meeting of the Bende North Council of Traditional Rulers on Friday, October 9. The second meeting was held at the palace of late HRH Eze Sampson Uwaka in Igbere, Bende Local Government Area.
The documents include a Memorandum of Understanding on Political Rotation, Equity and Peace, as well as a separate proposal dated February 4, 2019, bearing the signatures of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, and Hon. Emma Trumps Eke, who was identified as Director-General of the Benjamin Kalu Campaign Council at the time.
The memorandum was read at the Friday meeting by HRH Ebiri Okoro, who highlighted its provisions on political rotation, fairness, equity and the duration of representation 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 outlines an arrangement intended to promote peaceful and equitable rotation of the federal constituency’s House of Representatives seat between Bende North and Bende South.
It identifies Bende North, also known as Umunna, as comprising Item, Igbere, Alayi and Ugwueke/Ezeukwu, while Bende South, known as Ikwu-Isii, comprises Bende, Itumbauzo, Umuhu-Ezechi, Ozuitem, Uzuakoli and Umuimenyi/Nkpa.
Article Four of the memorandum 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.
The same provision states that the opportunity would rotate to Bende North, Umunna, after the completion of the agreed two-term period. It also stipulates that neither an individual, community nor political party should regard the seat as a permanent entitlement.
The agreement further commits both blocs to resolving disagreements peacefully and rejects violence, threats, communal hostility and actions capable of creating division. It calls on the parties to uphold equity, fairness, justice, unity and peaceful coexistence.
The second document, dated February 4, 2019, is titled Proposal Regarding Representation and Rotational Understanding in Bende Federal Constituency.
In the proposal, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, identified as a candidate at the time, acknowledged his roots in Bende South and expressed his intention to represent the constituency in the House of Representatives while recognising the contributions and leadership of Bende North.
The proposal cited equitable rotation and mutual respect between the two blocs as the basis for the arrangement. It further outlined a two-term representation arrangement for Bende South, after which the opportunity would return to Bende North.
Speaking at the meeting, Eze Uwakwe Ukaegbu said he was among those who signed the 2019 rotation agreement and maintained that the release of the documents had vindicated his position on the matter.
He urged traditional rulers from Bende North not to allow financial considerations to influence their position on the agreement, stressing the importance of preserving their integrity and honouring commitments made in the interest of the constituency.
Eze Ukaegbu insisted that he witnessed and signed the agreement and would not misrepresent the facts for political reasons. He also said he had substantial personal and family investments in the United States, stressing that his position was not motivated by financial considerations.
The traditional ruler added that Benjamin Kalu had committed himself to serving only two terms in the House of Representatives under the arrangement.
Also speaking, His Royal Majesty, Eze Joseph Ukaoha Anyanta, the Enyi Ezeji of Ibinaukwu, said traditional rulers had historically played important roles in maintaining stability and order in society.
He cited the role of kings in biblical accounts as an example of traditional leadership in preserving stability and thanked Eze Ukaegbu for making the documents available to the council.
The release of the documents has brought renewed attention to the 2019 rotational understanding as political activities gather momentum ahead of the 2027 House of Representatives election in Bende Federal Constituency.
