The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, PhD, CFR, has received another major boost to his third-term bid for the Bende Federal Constituency following endorsements from traditional rulers and religious leaders across the area.

?The latest backing came from the Umunna Traditional Rulers Council—comprising royal fathers from Item, Alayi, Igbere, and Ezeukwu communities—alongside leaders of the Methodist Church during separate consultation meetings held under Kalu’s ongoing "Meet Your Constituents" initiative. This comes shortly after the Bende South State Constituency (Ikwuisi) Traditional Rulers Council also declared support for the lawmaker while dismissing rumors of an existing zoning agreement.

?Speaking on behalf of the Umunna monarchs at the palace of Eze Kalu Okorie Ezeukwu, traditional rulers lauded Kalu’s legislative achievements, citing his delivery of infrastructure projects, including roads, schools, hospitals, and the attraction of two federal institutions to the local government area. Eze Innocent Kalu Mba emphasized that Kalu’s performance made him the clear choice for the constituency, urging constituents not to trade experienced representation for a "bench warmer."

?To support the administrative efficiency and mobility of the traditional institution, Kalu presented buses to both the Umunna Traditional Rulers Council and the Bende South State Constituency Traditional Rulers Council. Expressing gratitude for the endorsement, Kalu noted that the federal institutions brought to Bende would each generate at least 3,000 jobs and drive localized economic development.

?In a related engagement at the Methodist Cathedral in Uzuakoli, church leaders led by Bishop James A. Anyanwu of the Uzuakoli Diocese and Most Rev. Bishop Nwaulo Ikechukwu Emezie of the Item Diocese also gave their blessing to Kalu’s 2027 campaign.

Responding to appeals from the clergy regarding church-established community facilities, Kalu assured them that targeted interventions had been captured in development plans, announcing an upcoming technical session with roughly 130 religious leaders to outline youth reformation and project execution across Bende.