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Questions Mount Over Alleged Eight-Year Rotation Agreement in Bende
By: Aglow TV
Claims surrounding an alleged eight-year rotational agreement for the Bende Federal Constituency House of Representatives seat have come under fresh scrutiny following comments by the Traditional Ruler of Umuobasiukwu Autonomous Community, Ozuitem, HRH Eze John Onuoha Akaliro. The monarch dismissed reports that such an agreement exists, stating that he never endorsed or signed any document establishing an eight-year rotation between the Umunna and Ikwuisii blocs. He challenged those promoting the claim to make the purported agreement public.
According to Eze Akaliro, the political history of Bende does not support the argument being advanced. He pointed out that former lawmaker Rt. Hon. Nnenna Ukeje successfully contested and served three consecutive terms in the House of Representatives. He questioned why anyone would expect him to have approved an arrangement that would prevent another representative from enjoying the same opportunity after only two terms.
The royal father further explained that, while there has long been an informal understanding aimed at promoting balance in Bende politics, it was never about restricting the House of Representatives seat to eight years. Rather, the understanding was that the two major elective offices in the local government—the House of Representatives seat and the Local Government Chairmanship—should be shared between the two major blocs, although he noted that political actors have not always respected that arrangement.
He therefore maintained that, in the absence of any verifiable document proving an eight-year rotational agreement, the claim remains unsubstantiated. He argued that if a formal rotational system is ever to be adopted, equity would require Bende South to complete the same three-term cycle previously enjoyed by Nnenna Ukeje before any discussion of rotation. He concluded that public debate should be guided by verifiable facts rather than political narratives.
