Bende Federal Constituency is rallying behind a new promise of people-first politics as Labour Party chieftain, Dr. Chimaobi Desmond Anyaso, has vowed never to misappropriate public funds if elected to the House of Representatives in 2027.
In a post on his verified Facebook page that has since gone viral across Abia, Anyaso assured constituents:
“I will never steal from the people. Instead, I will gladly add my own to serve them better and improve their lives.”
The statement comes at a time when stakeholders in Bende say they are “yearning for credible leadership” ahead of the next general elections.
Recently, during a stakeholders’ meeting in Igbere attended by representatives from all 13 wards, leaders unanimously endorsed Dr. Anyaso to contest the Bende Federal Constituency seat.
Presenting him, Abia State Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Cliff Agbaeze, said the call was “driven by his proven track record and the trust he has built among the people.”
Former elected councillors across the constituency also adopted him as their sole candidate during a courtesy visit to his Igbere home, citing his philanthropic work and humanitarian interventions. Coordinator Hon. Godwin Ndom said the decision followed “a collective and conscientious” resolution.
Speaking at a recent Harvard IFE Institute conference, Anyaso outlined the core of his campaign: accountability and character.
“Leadership without character creates power without purpose,” he said. “The most valuable currency in leadership is not money… it is trust.”
Through the Chima Anyaso Foundation, he has partnered with a US-based charity to establish community food banks in all 13 wards of Bende to support low-income families — a move supporters say reflects his “add my own to serve” philosophy.
The Bende seat is currently occupied by Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu of the APC. The race is already generating political realignments, with reports that an aide to the Deputy Speaker resigned in May to declare support for Anyaso.
Anyaso, who was YPP’s deputy governorship candidate in Abia in 2023, has also begun cross-party consultations, including a meeting with APC chieftain Dr. Kingsley Ononogbu, as he pushes for what he calls “purposeful, responsible, and people-oriented representation.”
He further argues that equity demands the next representative emerge from the Umunna Bloc.
Political observers note that with endorsements cutting across wards and party lines, the 2027 contest for Bende is shaping up to be one of Abia’s most watched.
