Pressure Mounts On Kalu To Withdraw From 2027 Race

By Suleiman Anyalewechi 

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Benjamin Kalu, has been tasked on the need to respect the unwritten, but subsisting power sharing arrangement in Bende Federal Constituency of Abia state.

At a meeting, the Igbere Traditional Rulers Council called on Kalu to consider jettisoning his third term bid to pave way for the next political bloc  to take its  rightful  turn to represent Bende Federal Constituency  at the National Assembly.

The Source reports that a power rotation formula in place since 1999 has seen two clans- Ikwuiisi and Umunna  sharing power ,which comprises 13 wards.

The Deputy Speaker who is from the Ikwuiisi clan took over from Hon Nnena Ukeje from the Umunna bloc in 2019, and is widely expected to make way for the emergence of someone from the other  clan in line with the power sharing arrangement.

Eze Joseph Ukaoha Anyanta who spoke  after a consultative parley between the Igbere Traditional Rulers Council and Kalu, emphasized the importance of parties keeping faith with the agreement, which he  said has helped in fostering unity and a sense of belonging among the constituents.

According to the Monarch, the meeting with the Deputy Speaker was a veritable opportunity for the Traditional Rulers to draw attention to the subsisting power sharing arrangement and the imperative of political actors to respect it in the overall interest of unity and justice.

Eze Anyanta noted that the power rotation formula featured prominently at the meeting which held at the palace of  a member of the Council, His Highness ,Eze Patrick Ude, with overwhelming majority calling on parties to respect the pact.

“We cannot say 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”, the Monarch stated.

He, therefore, appealed to the Deputy Speaker to consider the option of honourably withdrawing from the 2027 race in the spirit of the unwritten power agreement.

“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 added.

The unwritten power sharing arrangement has majorly defined the political landscape and direction of most  South East states  since the advent of the current democratic dispensation.

The Deputy Speaker, however, has remained adamant, insisting that it is politically unwise to sacrifice experience on the alter of a nebulous power sharing arrangement.