Abia Lawmaker Declares Interest in Replacing Deputy Speaker Kalu for 2027 Elections

Umuahia, Nigeria – A notable political ambition has emerged in Abia State as Hon. Emmanuel Chinedu Ndubuisi, a two-term member of the Abia State House of Assembly, has officially declared his intention to vie for the Bende Federal Constituency seat in the 2027 general elections. Ndubuisi, widely known as 'Ijiriji Bende,' seeks to challenge the incumbent Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, for the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket.

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I believe if I am given this opportunity to represent Bende Federal Constituency, I’m going to build on the infrastructure that the Ben Kalu has already built in Bende local government. He has set the stage for me to step in and attract further investments to this local government.

Ndubuisi, who has represented Bende South State Constituency since 2019, made his public declaration on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, at his Uzuakoli residence. He highlighted that both he and Deputy Speaker Kalu belong to the APC and hail from the Ikwuishii political bloc within the Bende Local Government Area. This makes his ambition a direct challenge within the party structure, especially as Kalu is rumored to be considering a gubernatorial bid, though not yet publicly confirmed.

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I’m excited about it because that market also comes with about over 20 kilometers of feeder roads through which agricultural produce will be fed to the market. And it’s going to help develop agribusiness in Bende.

Despite acknowledging Kalu's significant achievements in the constituency, Ndubuisi expressed confidence in his ability to step into the role. He articulated that his decision to seek a higher office stems from a desire to represent the entire Bende local government area, believing the House of Representatives offers a broader platform to realize his vision of developing Bende into a commercial hub – a leverage he feels the state assembly could not provide.

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I believe that the House of Representatives will give me the platform that I need to develop this local government as an economic hub.

His ambition is fueled by a desire to build upon the existing infrastructure and attract further investments. Ndubuisi pointed to his success in attracting the RAMP market in Uzuakoli as an example of his commitment to local development, noting its potential to boost agribusiness through improved feeder roads. He believes that Bende's strategic location is ideal for industrial growth, particularly in sectors like cocoa processing, which could create thousands of jobs and provide vital markets for local farmers. Ndubuisi is convinced that the federal platform is essential to unlocking this economic potential.

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I believe that if you bring one industry that uses cocoa as a raw material to Bende Federal Constituency, thousands of my constituents will have employment and the large number of cocoa farmers here will have markets to sell their produce.