The political contest for the Bende Federal Constituency seat has begun in earnest following the formal presentation of the Labour Party flag to Dr Chima Anyaso, the business tycoon cum politician popularly known as Ofuji.
With the LP banner in his hands, Anyaso is now politically charged to do electoral battle with the incumbent Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, who is angling for a third term in the National Assembly.
Governor Alex Otti presented the LP flag to Anyaso on Sunday November 1, 2026 during the official flag-off of the Labour Party’s election campaign at the Umuahia Township Stadium. The event was graced by national and state party leaders, members of the National Assembly, state lawmakers, members of the Abia State Executive Council and thousands of party supporters.
The development is widely seen as a significant political boost for Anyaso, whose ambition to represent Bende Federal Constituency places him on a potential electoral collision course with Kalu, one of the most prominent political figures from Abia State at the National Assembly.
Presenting the party flag to Anyaso, Governor Otti urged the people of Bende and eligible voters across Abia State to support Labour Party candidates, stressing the importance of electing representatives who would advance the interests of their constituents.
“Make sure you vote for all the Labour Party candidates. I am handing over this flag to Dr. Chima Anyaso (OFUJI), and I am doing that in the name of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,” the Governor declared.
Otti’s public endorsement of Anyaso through the formal flag presentation is expected to strengthen Ofuji’s political visibility and energise Labour Party supporters in Bende, where the battle for the federal constituency seat is shaping up to be a major political contest.
In a chat with journalists shortly after receiving the flag, Anyaso described the occasion as a defining moment in his political journey and an important milestone in his determination to offer the people of Bende a new direction in representation at the National Assembly.
He expressed confidence that his campaign would resonate with voters across the constituency, insisting that the people were increasingly receptive to his message of hope, development and responsive representation.
“Having received this flag today, we are going to visit the local government area, the 13 wards of Bende and the 214 polling units to give our people a message of hope,” Anyaso stated.
He explained that his campaign would intensify grassroots mobilisation involving direct engagement with communities across Bende, thereby providing opportunities for residents to express their concerns, expectations and priorities.
According to the LP candidate for Bende Federal Constituency, the formal presentation of the party flag was not the beginning of his engagement with the people, as his political organisation and supporters had maintained active presence across the constituency prior to the campaign flag-off.
Anyaso noted that the growing enthusiasm surrounding his candidacy was an indication that the electorate desired a new approach to political representation at the Green Chamber of the National Assembly.
He further expressed optimism about his electoral prospects, declaring that the signs were becoming increasingly clear that the people of Bende wanted OFUJI as their next representative in the House of Representatives.
The contest for Bende Federal Constituency is expected to attract considerable political attention, particularly because of the position currently occupied by Kalu as Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.
For the Labour Party, Anyaso’s candidacy represents an opportunity to challenge the incumbent’s political influence and strengthen the party’s representation at the National Assembly.
Political observers will also be watching how Governor Otti’s influence and the Labour Party’s political structure in Abia State translate into electoral support for Anyaso as campaigns gather momentum.
With the formal presentation of the party flag, Anyaso is expected to intensify his consultations, community engagements and mobilisation efforts across Bende Federal Constituency as he seeks to build the political coalition required to challenge the incumbent.
The event marks a significant new phase in the contest for Bende, setting the stage for what could become one of Abia State’s most closely watched National Assembly electoral battles.
