The political atmosphere in Bende Federal Constituency received a major boost on Saturday as Organised Labour staged a solidarity ceremony in support of Dr. Chima Anyaso, the man widely regarded as the incoming member for the constituency in 2027.
The event, which drew workers, community leaders and political stakeholders from across the 11 wards of Bende, was attended by the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, described by supporters as “The Working Governor.”
Speaking at the ceremony, the Clerk of the Abia State House of Assembly, Comrade Promise Onwukwe, delivered what many described as the most telling testimony of the day. He linked the unusual involvement of labour in partisan politics to the personal qualities of the Bende aspirant.
“For Organised Labour to think of organising this kind of ceremony in support of your political movement in Bende, there is something good about you,” Onwukwe said to a cheering crowd. “In this singular act, you are emerging victorious come 2027.”
The Clerk’s remarks drew sustained applause, with labour leaders nodding in agreement as they described Anyaso as a son of Bende who has consistently identified with workers and the less privileged.
Dr. Anyaso, a businessman, philanthropist and two-time House of Representatives contender, has in recent months intensified grassroots engagements across Bende. His foundation has been credited with scholarship schemes, medical outreaches and empowerment programmes that cut across party lines.
Addressing the gathering, Governor Otti commended Organised Labour for recognizing merit over sentiment. He said his administration’s partnership with workers was yielding results in Abia and that such alliances must be replicated at the federal level to deepen development.
“The partnership we have built with labour in Abia is about service and delivery,” Otti said. “When people of capacity like Dr. Anyaso step forward to serve, it makes the job of governance easier because the focus will remain on the people.”
Political observers note that the public endorsement from both the Governor and the Clerk of the House signals an early alignment within the Labour Party structure ahead of the 2027 general elections. Bende Federal Constituency, one of Abia’s key political blocs, has remained a battleground, and the involvement of Organised Labour is expected to reshape the dynamics.
Several labour union chairmen who spoke at the event described Anyaso as “a tested hand” whose private sector experience and community service made him fit to represent Bende at the National Assembly. They pledged to mobilize workers and their families across the constituency to support his ambition.
In his response, Dr. Anyaso thanked Governor Otti, the Clerk, and Organised Labour for the confidence reposed in him. He promised to run an inclusive campaign anchored on job creation, federal presence and youth development.
“This support is not for me alone. It is for Bende,” Anyaso said. “If given the mandate in 2027, we will ensure that Bende gets its fair share of federal projects, and that our youths and workers have a voice in Abuja.”
The ceremony ended with a solidarity march by workers through major streets in Bende, a move analysts say marks the formal commencement of early campaign activities in the constituency.
With two years to the next elections, the alignment between the state government, labour and grassroots structures in Bende suggests that the race for the federal seat may have started earlier than expected.
