Bende Turns Yellow as Constituents Rally Behind Deputy Speaker Kalu Ahead of 2027

Constituents and supporters of the All Progressives Congress in Bende Federal Constituency, Abia State, have staged a mass solidarity march in support of the re-election bid of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu.

The procession, which spread across communities in the constituency’s 13 wards, was marked by the display of placards, solidarity songs and expressions of support for Kalu ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The development has been described by supporters as an organic show of love to Kalu and the solidarity match christened the “Yellow Movement”, with participants highlighting Kalu’s legislative activities and constituency interventions as reasons for backing his return to the National Assembly.

Kalu, who has represented Bende Federal Constituency since 2019 and became Deputy Speaker of the 10th House in 2023, has attracted several constituency projects covering roads, education, healthcare, agriculture federal job placements and empowerment initiatives.

Amongst His constituency projects interventions includes the Amokwe-Akanu road, Bende Market Road, Ndiokorieukwu Road, Bende headquarters road, classroom construction, agricultural training, medical outreach and empowerment programmes for widows, pensioners and other vulnerable residents.

The latest show of support also comes against the backdrop of Kalu’s emergence as the APC candidate for Bende Federal Constituency in the 2027 election.

He was returned unopposed during the party’s primary process conducted across the 13 wards of the constituency in May 2026. Reports from the exercise said party members and stakeholders participated across the wards.

The 13 wards include Alayi, Bende, Ezeukwu, Igbere, Item, Itumbuzo, Nkpa, Ntalakwu, Ozuitem, Ugwueke, Umu-Imenyi, Umuhu-Ezechi and Uzuakoli.

Participants in the solidarity march said their support was anchored on what they described as visible interventions in different parts of Bende, arguing that representation should be assessed by the laws, projects and opportunities delivered to constituents.

Kalu’s supporters have continued to point to his role in the House leadership as another factor they believe has given Bende greater visibility at the national level. Kalu serves as the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and has being involved in national development, constitution review, women and youth inclusion, project implementation and related legislative interests among his areas of focus.

The march adds another layer to the political activities already building around the 2027 Bende Federal Constituency contest, with supporters signalling their intention to sustain mobilisation for Kalu ahead of the election.

For the Deputy Speaker, the unfolding political engagement places increasing attention on his record in office, his constituency interventions and the expectations of Bende voters as the 2027 elections draw closer.