By Our Correspondent
The Anambra State House of Assembly has refuted claims that Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo influenced the suspension of Hon. Abuchi Udemezue, member representing Ayamelum Constituency, describing such allegations as “false, baseless, and mischievous.”
In a statement signed by the Chairman, House Committee on Media and Publicity, Rt. Hon. Ejike Okechukwu, the Assembly said it was compelled to respond to a press release issued on August 27 by some federal lawmakers from Anambra North Senatorial Zone under the Labour Party, who criticised the suspension of Hon. Udemezue.
Okechukwu said the House would ordinarily have ignored the statement but chose to “set the records straight and protect the public from misleading narratives.”
The Assembly maintained that the disciplinary action was a purely internal legislative matter arising from what it described as “unparliamentary and uncouth language” used by Udemezue, including his decision to label colleagues as “mad men” on social media after he was invited to defend himself.
“Every member is bound by the Constitution and the Standing Orders of the House. No one is above discipline,” the statement read.
According to the House, Udemezue was granted an opportunity to defend himself and even offered the chance to apologise but “consistently took the institution for granted.” It stressed that his suspension had nothing to do with his oversight functions as a lawmaker.
On the allegation of Soludo’s interference, the Assembly explained that it had scheduled resumption for August 7 before the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) fixed supplementary elections, which shifted the date to August 19.
It insisted the decision to discipline Udemezue “was entirely an internal legislative affair and not at the behest of the Executive.”
The statement also criticised the involvement of federal lawmakers in the matter, saying their intervention amounted to meddling in the internal processes of a state legislature.
“Instead of focusing on their core responsibilities at the National Assembly—where their colleagues are attracting federal projects and creating opportunities for their constituents—some federal lawmakers from Anambra North have chosen to dabble into petty local politics,” the Assembly said.
Reaffirming its commitment to legislative integrity, the Assembly assured the public that discipline within the chamber is designed to uphold decorum and mutual respect, not to stifle dissent.
It urged federal legislators from the state to channel their energies towards their national mandate and allow the State Assembly to carry out its constitutional duties without interference.
