Call The Deputy Speaker To Order, Harassment of Bende People Getting Out Of Hands –Chima Anya Appeals To Bende Stakeholders
PRESS Release:
Call The Deputy Speaker To Order, Harassment of Bende People Getting Out Of Hands –Chima Anya Appeals To Bende Stakeholders
–Says Nobody Can Force Himself on the People of Bende-
Dr. Chima Anyaso, Labour Party candidate for Bende Federal Constituency, has appealed to political and community stakeholders in Bende Local Government Area to call the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, to order over what he described as the increasing harassment and intimidation of Bende people by ‘alleged’ supporters of the Deputy Speaker.
Dr. Anyaso, in a statement on the development, said no individual, irrespective of political position or influence, has the right to force himself on the people of Bende as their representative.
He was reacting to a recent video released by aides of the Deputy Speaker, in which Mr. Nnamdi Oleka of Amaoba Village, Bende town, was surrounded by youths who were brandishing machets, other dangerous weapons and pressured to recant an earlier statement that Dr. Anyaso would defeat Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu in the 2027 election.
According to Dr. Anyaso:”The situation is becoming petty, and I think it is high time the stakeholders of Bende called on the Deputy Speaker to order. The other time, it was a traditional ruler who said that anyone who votes against him would be swallowed by the land. He, on his own, found the statement to be unworthy of a traditional ruler and apologised to his subjects. He was never intimidated.”
The Labour Party candidate further disclosed that he recently visited the Igbere Division of the Nigeria Police Force to secure the release of one of his supporters who, according to him, was arrested by an APC chieftain allegedly working for the Deputy Speaker.
“Who knows who will be next? Maybe a mother in Bende,” Dr. Anyaso asked, expressing concern over what he described as a disturbing trend of intimidation.
He maintained that despite the Labour Party’s control of the Bende Local Government Area, members of the party had not intimidated or harassed people for holding political opinions different from theirs.
“As a candidate, I have supporters and I have been calming them down. Nobody has a monopoly on intimidation, but we will not be provoked into resorting to such actions. That is why this call is coming at this time,”
Dr. Anyaso urged the relevant stakeholders, traditional leaders, community leaders and other influential figures in Bende to intervene before the situation escalates.
He also called on members and supporters of the Labour Party in Bende to remain focused on their campaign, engage voters peacefully and remain vigilant against any potential security threats.
He stressed that the people of Bende should be allowed to freely make their political choices without intimidation, coercion or fear, urging all political actors to respect democratic values and the right of citizens to support candidates of their choice without fear or favour.
Signed:
Promise Uzoma Okoro , anipr
Director of Media and Publicity of the Chima Anyaso Campaign Council.
22/8/2026
