* Stakeholders cite equity, continuity, and past dominance of Bende North
Fresh political pressure is mounting within Bende Federal Constituency as stakeholders and community voices call for the retention of the House of Representatives seat within Bende South (Ikwuisii) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The agitation follows indications that the current occupant of the seat, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, may be pursuing higher political office, a move that has triggered renewed conversations around zoning, equity, and continuity.
Advocates of the Ikwuisii position argue that since Kalu, a son of Bende South, currently occupies the seat, it would be both fair and consistent with established political understanding for another candidate from the same bloc to succeed him.
They further point to historical precedents, noting that Bende North (Umunna) held the House of Representatives seat for 16 consecutive years before Kalu’s emergence. According to them, this extended period of dominance underscores the need to allow Bende South (Ikwuisii) fully continue its own turn without interruption.
According to stakeholders, power rotation within the constituency is not tied to individuals but to blocs, and as such, the Ikwuisii zone must be allowed to complete its turn to maintain balance and political harmony.
“Equity demands that the Ikwuisii bloc finishes what it started,” a stakeholder stated. “Anything short of that would disrupt the delicate balance that has helped sustain unity in Bende.”
The group further emphasized that allowing another zone to take over prematurely could reopen long-standing concerns about marginalization and uneven distribution of political opportunities.
Meanwhile, attention is gradually shifting to potential successors from the area, with Hon. Emmanuel Ndubuisi emerging as one of the prominently mentioned figures. Supporters describe him as experienced, grassroots-driven, and capable of consolidating on the gains recorded in recent years.
As political realignments continue ahead of 2027, analysts believe that the debate over equity, zoning, and continuity will play a decisive role in shaping the contest for Bende Federal Constituency.
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