The Anambra State House of Assembly has suspended Hon. Abuchi Bernard Udemezue, representing Ayamelum State Constituency, for three months following his public allegations of impropriety within the legislature.
The suspension was formalized during a plenary session at the assembly complex in Awka, marking the culmination of disciplinary proceedings that began when Udemezue was summoned earlier this week. The lawmaker was summoned for allegedly sharing contents deemed to be damaging to the assembly on social media.
The House passed the resolution following a matter of urgent public importance sponsored by the member representing Aguata 2 constituency, Hon Tony Mobike during plenary in Awka. The motion leading to the suspension characterized Udemezue’s social media posts as containing “damaging content” that threatened the integrity of the legislative institution.
The controversy began when Udemezue, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), took to social media platforms to allege that his constituency was sidelined in constituency allowances, raising questions about the equitable distribution of legislative funds across the state’s 30 constituencies.
The lawmaker also reportedly alleged rot in the system in the state, including reportedly exposing how the late Justice Azuka, who represented Onitsha 1 North Constituency in the State Assembly, was killed. These broader allegations have added complexity to the disciplinary action against him.
Udemezue’s political background adds significance to the current controversy. In the 2023 state assembly elections, he scored 12,993 votes to defeat Uchenna Okafor of APGA, who polled 11,445 votes, marking a significant political upset in which he defeated the incumbent speaker of the assembly. This victory represented a notable shift in the political dynamics of Ayamelum constituency.
The Anambra State House of Assembly has 30 members representing constituencies under 21 local government areas, divided into three senatorial zones. His constituency has previously advocated for infrastructure development, including road projects that connect the area to other parts of the state.
The three-month suspension effectively removes Udemezue from participating in legislative activities, including voting on bills, committee assignments, and constituency representation duties. This punishment represents one of the most significant disciplinary measures taken by the current assembly against any of its members.
Assembly leadership has not provided detailed justification for the specific duration of the suspension, though the action suggests serious concern about maintaining institutional dignity and preventing what they consider damaging public discourse about internal legislative operations. The suspended lawmaker has not yet publicly responded to the formal suspension, though his initial social media posts indicated his intention to continue advocating for transparency in governance.
