Abia council poll: War in Bende as LP chieftain raises alarm over plot to alter zoning formula
* Says political appointees trying to arm-twist Gov Otti
By Steve Oko
As timetable for Local Government election is being awaited in Abia State, a political war seems to be brewing in Bende Local Government Area over rotation of Chairmanship position between the two main political blocs in the Council.
Gov. Alex Otti, had while responding to a question last Friday during a media parley, promised to conduct Council poll in the state but said that the timetable was not yet ready.
He noted that an Executive Bill would soon be sent to the State House of Assembly to fine-tune the local government electoral law for a smooth conduct of the poll.
Meanwhile, a chieftain of the ruling Labour Party, Elder Uche Ogbajie, has accused political appointees from Bende of plotting to arm-twist the Governor to alter the long existing rotation arrangement in the council.
Elder Uche, told Wawa News Global that recently, those behind the plot held a secret meeting at Root Restaurant, where they agreed to use their influence to convince the Governor to tinker with the rotation arrangement.
According to him, the masterminds of the plot are going with a narrative that the zoning formula has to be altered in favour of Bende South to correct the Governor’s alleged lopsided appointments in Bende.
The LP chieftain who argued that it would be the turn of Bende North political bloc to produce the next elected Chairman of the Council, accused political office holders from Bende South and North of masterminding the alteration plot.
He warned those behind the plot to retrace their steps, and not hoodwink or blackmail the Governor, as any attempt to disrupt the rotation arrangement could spell doom to Labour Party in the council.
The LP chieftain further explained that Bende people had always respected the rotation order irrespective of the political party in power.
He, therefore, appealed to Gov. Otti not to allow selfish political office holders mislead him into taking an action that could make LP lose out in Bende where a major opposition considers its enclave.
Recall that a former Governor, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, representing Abia North; and the Deputy Speaker House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu – stalwarts of the All Progressives Congress, APC, hail from Bende.
Elder Uche, who said that the great achievements of Gov. Otti remained unbeatable selling point for the Labour Party, however, warned the party against the grave implications of violating the prevailing rotation arrangement in the LGA.
He said:”Since the inception of democracy, Bende LGA has followed and adopted a zoning pattern between the two political blocs of Bende North (Umunna) and South (Ikwuisi).
Bende South took the first position of the seat in 1999 by Chief F. M. Okeite (13/13), and Bende North by Chief Ngozi Chukwu. Again, Bende South by Hon Emenike Okorafor, and thereafter, Bende North by Gabriel Elendu. Bende South however, took the last turn by Emmanuel Onwuchekwa (Otamba) before the 2023 General election that brought Labour Party into power.
“It is very important to note that, nobody, irrespective of the party in power, has altered this political understanding among Bende people.
“But unfortunately, just last week, some political appointees from Bende LGA, who claimed that they know the Governor, and can influence him to alter the agreement of Bende people, had a secret meeting, accusing Dr Alex Otti of being lopsided in his appointments in Bende and, as a result, should alter the zoning pattern of Chairmanship position in Bende to suit their personal and selfish interest. Meanwhile, the same Bende South planning for this sordid act, are the people still on the Chairmanship seat till date.
“So, as the Chairmanship election is coming up very soon, it’s not negotiable and without argument, it should be the turn of Bende North (Umunna). And in Umunna, Item Ward “B” should be the people to produce the next elected Chairman of Bende LGA. This is because, for 36 years of their existence, doing politics and supporting political parties, they have never tasted anything in the similitudes of elected position of any sort in Bende LGA.”
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