Traditional rulers in Bende Federal Constituency of Abia State have disowned and dissociated themselves from a doc circulating as a purported 2019 settlement on illustration and rotation for the seat of the constituency within the House of Representatives.
The doc, linked to the Labour Party (LP) candidate for Bende Federal Constituency, Chima Anyaso over the weekend the place in it was purported that the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu alongside some conventional rulers from Bende North and Bende South, the 2 political blocs that made up the federal constituency signed an 8-year rotation settlement between them in 2019.
In a swift response to the event, the Director General of the Benjamin Kalu Movement (BKM), Hon. Emma Trumps Eke, whose title and signature appeared on the doc as signatory debunked the claims, saying the doc was solid and no such assembly ever held amongst Bende conventional rulers.
He distanced himself and the Deputy Speaker from the doc in circulation, warning in opposition to deliberate makes an attempt to trigger division amongst the individuals of Bende and the standard establishment.
The doc had said that the settlement came about on January 10, 2019 whereas the proposal for negotiations was signed on February 4, 2026, a growth that casts doubts on its supply and authenticity.
In his disclaimer, Eke stated: “I’ve been made conscious of a doc circulating as a purported proposal on illustration and rotation in Bende Federal Constituency. The doc is claimed to have been signed by me, Rev. Emmanuel Trumps Eke, and my Principal, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, Ph.D., CFR.
“I wish to state categorically that neither I, nor my Principal, signed any such document. It is false and an outright fabrication.”
On the content material of the doc, Eke stated: “The font and elegance of writing the names of Traditional Rulers and dates inserted on the signatory web page of the doc makes it clear that it’s an outright forgery.
“Letter one was presupposed to have been produced on February 4, 2019. The date of the second doc is nineteenth January, 2019. If the standard rulers have already settled a matter in January, why do we have to search the identical reliefs in February?
“The Traditional Ruler who is purported to have signed as Chairman of Bende South in 2019, Eze Patrick Ude, was not Chairman of Bende South Traditional Rulers Council in 2019.”
“A doc produced by Traditional Rulers of Bende will probably be positioned on their official letter head with the suitable official accouterments and never on a facsimile paper.
“The conventional rulers, whose names are listed as signatories and witnesses to the doc, have, at varied fora, denied that any such doc exists or that they signed it.
“The first web page is a bromide of a letter we wrote to Bende Stakeholders in 2019 soliciting their help. They have eliminated the unique content material of the letter and superimposed their forgery.
“I due to this fact state with out equivocation that the doc in circulation is faux and an outright forgery.
“For the avoidance of doubt, I reiterate once more that no such dialog or settlement about tenure and switch came about with anybody, to the very best of my information.
“It is regrettable that this purported document is being used to advance a narrative about “turn” and political agreements. Those making such claims ought to focus on presenting their plans and proposals on to the individuals of Bende, slightly than relying on a solid doc.
“I urge the public to exercise caution and verify the authenticity of any document before sharing it. Those responsible for producing, or knowingly distributing a forged document, will be held accountable in accordance with the law.”
Similarly, the standard rulers whose names appeared on the doc have additionally issued separate disclaimers.
His Royal Highness Dr. Patrick Ude, Isiobu 1 of Umuisiobu Autonomous Community, Bende LGA listed as Chairman/consultant from Bende South, in a letter dated October 9, 2026 stated he was by no means part of such assembly, not to mention signing any doc.
“I hereby state clearly and with out ambiguity to Ndi Bende, Abia State and most people that I used to be by no means invited to, by no means attended any assembly the place such settlement was mentioned or reached. I didn’t signal, thumbprint or witness any doc in respect of rotation of Bende Federal Constituency seat.
“My name and office was included in that letter without my knowledge or consent. I dissociate myself completely from the said publication and its content. The general public should disregard the publication as it concerns me. I will remain a father to all political actors and I am for peace, equity and progress of Bende federal constituency”, he stated.
Also, HRH Eze Jerry Akpala Igwe (Aka-ji Ofo Item) of Ikwueze Okoko Item Autonomy Community, Bende Local Government Area of the State in his personal letter dated October 10, 2026 dissociated himself from the paperwork.
“I wish to state categorically that the purported signature on that document does not resemble mine and was not signed by me. I hereby dissociate myself from the document circulating on social media as I was not part of such a document at any point in time and it should be discountenanced by the general public”, he stated.
On his half, His Royal Majesty (HRM) Eze John Akaliro, Obasiukwu 11 of
Umuonuoha, Umuibe, Ogboko Umuobasiukwu Ozuitem Autonomous Community, Bende LGA in a letter dated October 9, 2026 stated the doc is faux.
“The document in circulation bearing my name is fake and should be discountenanced as I did not sign or witness such a document”, he stated.
