The Abia Rejoice Movement has called on political stakeholders in Bende Federal Constituency to uphold the existing zoning agreement ahead of the 2027 general elections, warning that discarding it could threaten peace and equity in the area.
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‎The call was made on Tuesday during a meeting of the group at the party office in Umuahia. It follows a similar appeal by traditional rulers from the constituency who urged stakeholders to respect the arrangement to preserve harmony.
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‎Speaking on behalf of the movement, the Women Leader in Bende, Mrs. Blessing Uwakwa, said agreements entered into by stakeholders must be honoured.
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‎”A signed agreement endorsed by our traditional rulers and stakeholders should not be discarded because of personal interests. Respect for agreements is fundamental to justice, fairness and peaceful coexistence,” she said.
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‎Uwakwa said the zoning arrangement was designed to promote equity among the component blocs in the constituency and cautioned that abandoning it could heighten political tension.
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‎”We are appealing to everyone involved to return to the spirit of the agreement. Integrity should guide our actions, and the collective interest of Bende must take precedence over individual ambitions,” she added.
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‎Other leaders of the movement also called for dialogue and restraint among political actors. They expressed confidence that a peaceful resolution would strengthen unity within the constituency and create an atmosphere for credible political participation ahead of the elections.
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‎The zoning arrangement for the Bende Federal Constituency seat has remained a subject of public discourse in recent days, attracting reactions from traditional rulers, political stakeholders and interest groups.
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Honour Zoning Deal to Avoid Tension in Bende, Group Tells Stakeholders
