Alleged Phone Snatching, Impersonation Sparks Outrage In Bende Politics As Analyst Accuses Deputy Speaker’s Camp of Desperation

A political analyst and social commentator, Chief Emenike Okorie, has accused the camp of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, of resorting to intimidation and impersonation ahead of the 2027 elections.

In a statement issued on Thursday, Okorie alleged that the phone belonging to Ukaegbu Chimmuanya Onwubuiko was snatched by soldiers acting on instructions attributed to the Deputy Speaker, and that the device was subsequently used to publish posts and statements without Onwubuiko’s authorization.

According to Okorie, if the allegation is true, the incident has gone beyond normal political disagreement.

“This is no longer ordinary political disagreement. It raises a very serious question about intimidation, unauthorized access, impersonation and the abuse of power for political purposes,” he said.

He called for an independent investigation to establish the facts, stressing that Onwubuiko should not be held responsible for statements he did not make.

“Whoever is responsible should have the courage to identify themselves and defend their own words rather than hide behind another person’s identity,” he added.

Okorie linked the alleged incident to what he described as desperation to retain the Bende Federal Constituency seat for a third term.

“Why has the quest to remain in office for a third term apparently become so desperate that political opponents must allegedly resort to impersonation and the commandeering of another person’s communication device?” he queried.

The analyst who was a Deputy Chairman of Bende Local Government Area, argued that politics should be about ideas and records, not intimidation, and challenged the Deputy Speaker’s camp to respond with evidence to questions on constituency projects and public expenditure.

“You cannot silence a question by hijacking the questioner’s phone. You cannot manufacture credibility through impersonation. And you cannot intimidate your way into a permanent mandate,” he stated.

Okorie said the people of Bende deserve transparency and accountability, and urged that the 2027 election be focused on development rather than what he called “the desperation of one political camp to perpetually retain power.”

“They deserve a politics where facts are answered with facts — not fear, impersonation or desperation,” he said.

As of press time, there was no official response from the office of the Deputy Speaker to the allegations.

Security agencies are yet to comment on the claim of involvement of soldiers in the alleged phone snatching.