The attention of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abia State Chapter, has told the Abia State Chapter of the Labour Party (LP) that contrary to its recent misinformation of the public, “there was indeed an arrangement resembling power rotation in Bende Federal Constituency.”
Uche Aguoru, publicity secretary of the Abia State chapter of the APC, however, said that while the APC has made it abundantly clear that, as a political party, it does not operate a zoning or rotation policy, for the benefit of educating the LP, which appears to jump into debates without the prerequisite knowledge or facts but merely to attract undue sympathy and deceive the gullible public, it is important the APC agrees on the above without conceding.
He said that even for the purpose of the argument, they assume outside the established principles of APC, which does not recognise zoning, that zoning should be considered, in such a scenario, the argument still favours Bende South.
He said that Bende South has, so far, occupied the House of Representatives seat for only eight years, compared to Hon. Nnenna Ukeje from Bende North, who represented the constituency for sixteen years before the emergence of Hon. Benjamin Kalu.
He stressed that even though there was indeed an arrangement resembling power rotation in Bende Federal Constituency, it would still not favour the Labour Party candidate, “Chima Anyaso”, who, by every standard, lacks the capacity and intellect required to represent a politically sophisticated federal constituency like Bende.
Aguoru said he considers it necessary to make these clarifications, having watched the Labour Party labour so hard in its desperate attempt to convince the public that “a man who graduated with a third-class degree from Ebonyi State University is now its model of intelligence”. That is indeed very sad.”
Speaking further, he said, “If zoning were to be applied, as is being propagated by some half-intelligent individuals who lack a proper understanding of history, it would only be logical for Bende South to complete the same sixteen-year cycle before the seat rotates again.”
He said that as it stands today, the history and principle of zoning clearly does not favour Bende North, which has already produced a member of the House of Representatives for sixteen years, a governor for eight years, and currently has a sitting senator in the person of H.E. Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, who has served for eight years and is on his way to having another term.
Aguoru said that even when the seat eventually returns to Bende North, it certainly will not be for Chima Anyaso, “as Bende is far too enlightened to send a content creator and an intellectually challenged character to the House of Representatives”.
According to Aguoru, “We are not talking about economic power because even Chima Anyaso knows he is miles away from where Rt Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu stands.
“We are not talking about gathering money from in-laws, sisters, their husbands, and friends like a cooperative society. We are talking about the strength, capacity, and accomplishments of one man, not community funding.
“How does anyone imagine that Chima Anyaso, who could not stand against Benjamin Kalu in 2019 when the latter was not yet in the House of Representatives and when the APC was not as popular in Abia State, can now come anywhere close to him in an election, especially now that Benjamin Kalu is not only the pride of Bende but has become a global brand and a shining example of quality, efficient, effective, and result-orientated representation across Africa?
“Recently, I have closely monitored their activities. When the Deputy Speaker was invited by the University of Calabar to deliver a lecture during the institution’s 50th Anniversary Convocation as a distinguished alumnus, he gave an outstanding performance and was proudly supported by over 90 per cent of his 1998 Law Class.
“Within the same period, Chima Anyaso reportedly lobbied Ebonyi State University to invite him to speak and, rather than being accompanied by his classmates, transported market women from Igbere to Ebonyi to cheer and shout ‘OFUJI’ in an apparent attempt to prove that ‘if Ben can do it, I too can do it.'”
He said that the Labour Party and its already failed candidate for the Bende Federal Constituency should also be reminded that the Deputy Speaker recently returned from Chatham House, where he addressed global policymakers; proceeded to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), where he engaged development partners; addressed the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association at the UK Parliament; observed the Prime Minister’s Questions session; participated in climate investment engagements in London; and also spoke at the Globe Parliamentary Platform.
“For the purpose of public information, the Benjamin Kalu Foundation began awarding scholarships to students from Bende as far back as 2003, without social media fanfare. The Foundation was formally launched on December 29 of that year, long before Chima Anyaso graduated from the university.”
Aguoru said that it would amount to belittling the APC for us to engage in debates about party primaries with a political party that has never conducted a credible primary election and has no idea or understanding of internal party democracy.
“It is a party where an emperor simply reclines in his bedroom in Nvosi, dishes out nomination forms, and appoints candidates without any input from party members.
The APC therefore uses this opportunity to inform the Labour Party that on Saturday, January 16, 2027, the first electoral victory for our great party will be recorded in Bende Federal Constituency.
“The results of that election will be declared before 12 noon, with Rt Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, Utabiri Bende, securing 94 per cent of the total votes cast.”
