The race for the Bende Federal Constituency seat in the 2027 general election has gathered momentum following the formal declaration of Labour Party chieftain, Dr. Chimaobi Desmond Anyaso, popularly known as “Ofuji”, as a contender for the House of Representatives.
Anyaso was endorsed as the consensus candidate during a stakeholders’ meeting held in his hometown of Igbere, Abia State, where political leaders drawn from the 13 wards of Bende Local Government Area unanimously backed his aspiration. The endorsement was further reinforced by former elected councillors in the state, who pledged full support and vowed to mobilise voters across Abia to ensure his victory at the polls.
Speaking after his declaration, the Labour Party stalwart outlined his vision for the constituency, promising to deliver people-oriented representation anchored on unity, humility, dignity, hope and peace.
According to him, leadership is rooted in strong family values and genuine service to the people, expressing confidence that Bende would witness a brighter future through inclusive representation if elected.
Political observers say Anyaso’s emergence has injected fresh energy into the contest, citing his philanthropic activities, advocacy for equity in power rotation, and leadership credentials as factors driving growing public interest in his candidacy.
Widely recognised for his charitable interventions, Anyaso has earned public attention through the establishment of a free school in Igbere and various empowerment programmes targeted at young people across Abia State. Supporters maintain that his record of humanitarian service and community development inspired calls for him to seek elective office.
On zoning, the Labour Party chieftain argued that fairness demands that Bende North, particularly the Umunna bloc, should produce the next representative of the constituency. He recalled that he stepped aside during the 2023 election cycle in the interest of equity after the southern bloc had occupied the seat for eight years.
Beyond his local political engagements, Anyaso has also gained national and international recognition for his leadership advocacy. He was recently invited to speak at Harvard University’s IFE Institute on the theme, “Building Lasting Institutions,” where he emphasised that trust remains the most valuable asset in leadership and warned against the dangers of power exercised without character.
The contest for the Bende Federal Constituency is expected to be one of the most closely watched elections in Abia State. Anyaso will fly the flag of the Labour Party and has openly aligned his campaign with Governor Alex Otti’s “Otti Again 2027” movement, praising the governor’s administration for restoring confidence in governance and clearing outstanding entitlements owed to councillors.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, has emerged as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the constituency, setting the stage for a keen contest between the two major political figures.
Presenting Anyaso to party stakeholders during the meeting, the Abia State Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Cliff Agbaeze, described him as a credible and competent leader with the vision and capacity to advance the development of Bende Federal Constituency.
As political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 elections, analysts believe the contest will revolve around issues of performance, zoning, youth mobilisation and the competing visions of the leading candidates seeking to represent the constituency in the House of Representatives.
