2027: Bende monarchs reaffirm zoning pact, Kalu’s third-term bid faces hurdle

By Steve Oko
The third-term ambition of Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, may face a fresh political challenge following the reaffirmation of a 2019 zoning agreement by traditional rulers in Bende Federal Constituency, Abia State.
More than 27 traditional rulers from communities across the constituency gathered in Igbere on Friday to publicly present the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), insisting that the agreement, which provides for the rotation of the House of Representatives seat between the Umunna and Ikwu-Isii blocs, remained valid.
The monarchs said the arrangement was designed to promote fairness, equitable representation and peaceful coexisten...