2027: Anyaso Insists It’s Bende North’s Turn to Represent Constituency

The Labour Party candidate for Bende Federal Constituency, Dr. Chima Anyaso, has accused the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, of failing to attract what he described as major and iconic projects to Bende despite his position in the National Assembly.

Anyaso made the allegation during a birthday celebration held with workers at the Bende Local Government Area Council headquarters, where he donated a brand-new ambulance to support healthcare delivery in the local government.

He also presented bags of rice, wrappers and cash gifts to the workers.

The Labour Party candidate, who was accompanied by the party’s candidate for Abia North Senatorial District, Bourdex Ogba, and other party stakeholders, said Bende should have witnessed more significant development projects under the leadership of its current representative.
He argued that the projects attributed to Kalu were not commensurate with the office of Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.

“There is no major significant project that can quantify the position of a Deputy Speaker,” Anyaso said, insisting that he was not referring to one- or two-kilometre roads but projects of greater impact.

He questioned the state of the road linking Umuahia to Bende, asking how the people of Abia could expect wider development if, according to him, the representative could not fix infrastructure within his own constituency.

Anyaso further alleged that some projects attracted to Bende had failed, challenging journalists and other stakeholders to embark on what he described as a media project inspection to assess roads, schools and other projects in the constituency.
He also alleged that a renovated hall in his community was leaking from all sides whenever it rained.

The Labour Party candidate called for projects executed by what he described as first-class contractors, arguing that major federal projects should meet high standards.
According to him, Bende should have a major general hospital capable of attracting patients from neighbouring states as part of the legacy of having a Deputy Speaker from the area.

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Anyaso Revives 2019 Rotation Agreement
The Labour Party candidate also brought the issue of political rotation to the centre of his campaign, alleging that an agreement was reached in Bende in 2019 concerning the rotation of the Bende Federal Constituency seat.

Anyaso claimed the agreement was reached at the palace of Eze Patrick Ude on February 14, 2019, and provided for Bende South to occupy the Federal House of Representatives seat for two terms before returning it to Bende North.

He challenged those who disputed the existence of the agreement to come forward and deny it, saying he was in possession of the document and would make it public.

Anyaso maintained that it was now the turn of Umunna to represent the constituency, adding that after eight years, the position would return to Igbushi in line with the alleged agreement.

He also pledged to pursue what he described as a different approach to representation if elected in 2027.

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Anyaso and his entourage were received at the Bende Local Government Area Council headquarters by the Mayor, Barrister Uwabunkonye Bassey, Deputy Mayor Ngozi Anya and other members of the council executive.

Speaking during the event, the Mayor described Anyaso’s donation of the ambulance as a welcome gesture to the people of Bende.

Barrister Bassey said the donation was, to his knowledge, the first of its kind witnessed at the council, adding that it would complement ongoing government efforts in the health sector.

He specifically commended the administration of Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, for what he described as the provision of 16 retrofitted health centres in Bende Local Government Area.

According to the Mayor, the ambulance donation would further complement those interventions, while expressing confidence that more health projects would come to the local government.

The event combined Anyaso’s birthday celebration with a political engagement and humanitarian outreach, as the Labour Party candidate used the occasion to canvass support ahead of the 2027 election while presenting assistance to workers and the local health sector.