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Features
Tension at Anambra assembly as suspended lawmaker ejected amid budget presentation drama
Written By: Ehioze Gilbert
25 Nov 2025 02:04 PM
Awka, Anambra – In a dramatic showdown that briefly stalled proceedings at the Anambra State House of Assembly, suspended lawmaker Bernard Udemezue was forcibly removed from the legislative chambers during a high-stakes session for the presentation of the 2026 state budget.
The incident, which unfolded under heavy security amid a gathering of dignitaries, underscores ongoing frictions within the state's legislative arm over issues of discipline, due process, and political marginalization.
The confrontation erupted shortly before Governor Prof. Chukwuma Soludo's anticipated arrival to lay the proposed N1 trillion-plus budget before the assembly.
Udemezue, the representative for Ayamelum Constituency on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had taken a seat in the chambers despite his earlier suspension.
According to eyewitness accounts, Deputy Speaker Chukwuma Okoye, alongside lawmaker Innocent Ojike (Oyi Constituency), approached Udemezue, reminding him of his status and escorting him out.
Security forces, including personnel from the Police, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and others quickly intervened, detaining Udemezue and relocating him to the new legislative building adjacent to the main chambers.
The move sparked a brief altercation, with supporters of the lawmaker, including civil society representatives and party faithful, being cleared from the public gallery to restore order.
Udemezue's troubles trace back to August 2025, when the assembly suspended him for three months over a contentious social media post. In it, he alleged that Ayamelum Constituency, predominantly in the state's riverine south was being shortchanged in the allocation of constituency allowances, describing the disparity as "damaging" to legislative harmony.
The post prompted a motion of urgent public importance by Tony Muobike (Aguata II) and Jude Ngobili (Ihiala I), leading Speaker Somtochukwu Udeze to refer the matter to the House Committee on Rules, Business, Ethics, and Privileges.
The suspension, which elapsed recently, was intended to enforce decorum, but Udemezue's return has ignited debate over resumption protocols.
Deputy Speaker Okoye insisted post-incident that Udemezue "did not follow due process by writing to the House leadership after his suspension elapsed," emphasizing the assembly's procedural safeguards.
In response, Udemezue maintained his compliance, stating he had "submitted necessary letters for resumption to the appropriate authorities" prior to attending the session.
His supporters decried the ejection as an overreach, framing it as retaliation against his advocacy for equitable resource distribution in a state where ethnic and geographic divides often fuel political tensions.
The episode comes at a pivotal moment for Anambra, a southeastern powerhouse known for its commercial vibrancy and progressive governance under Soludo's All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA)-led administration.
The 2026 budget presentation is expected to outline ambitious investments in infrastructure, education, and security key priorities for a state grappling with flooding, youth unemployment, and inter-communal clashes.
While the assembly has since resumed operations, awaiting the governor's address, the incident highlights simmering resentments within Nigeria's often fractious state legislatures.
PDP stakeholders have hinted at potential escalation, with calls for Udemezue's reinstatement, while APGA loyalists defend the House's actions as upholding institutional integrity.
The assembly has yet to issue an official statement beyond the procedural enforcement cited by Okoye, as further updates on the budget proceedings and Udemezue's status are anticipated as the day progresses.
The incident, which unfolded under heavy security amid a gathering of dignitaries, underscores ongoing frictions within the state's legislative arm over issues of discipline, due process, and political marginalization.
The confrontation erupted shortly before Governor Prof. Chukwuma Soludo's anticipated arrival to lay the proposed N1 trillion-plus budget before the assembly.
Udemezue, the representative for Ayamelum Constituency on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had taken a seat in the chambers despite his earlier suspension.
According to eyewitness accounts, Deputy Speaker Chukwuma Okoye, alongside lawmaker Innocent Ojike (Oyi Constituency), approached Udemezue, reminding him of his status and escorting him out.
Security forces, including personnel from the Police, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and others quickly intervened, detaining Udemezue and relocating him to the new legislative building adjacent to the main chambers.
The move sparked a brief altercation, with supporters of the lawmaker, including civil society representatives and party faithful, being cleared from the public gallery to restore order.
Udemezue's troubles trace back to August 2025, when the assembly suspended him for three months over a contentious social media post. In it, he alleged that Ayamelum Constituency, predominantly in the state's riverine south was being shortchanged in the allocation of constituency allowances, describing the disparity as "damaging" to legislative harmony.
The post prompted a motion of urgent public importance by Tony Muobike (Aguata II) and Jude Ngobili (Ihiala I), leading Speaker Somtochukwu Udeze to refer the matter to the House Committee on Rules, Business, Ethics, and Privileges.
The suspension, which elapsed recently, was intended to enforce decorum, but Udemezue's return has ignited debate over resumption protocols.
Deputy Speaker Okoye insisted post-incident that Udemezue "did not follow due process by writing to the House leadership after his suspension elapsed," emphasizing the assembly's procedural safeguards.
In response, Udemezue maintained his compliance, stating he had "submitted necessary letters for resumption to the appropriate authorities" prior to attending the session.
His supporters decried the ejection as an overreach, framing it as retaliation against his advocacy for equitable resource distribution in a state where ethnic and geographic divides often fuel political tensions.
The episode comes at a pivotal moment for Anambra, a southeastern powerhouse known for its commercial vibrancy and progressive governance under Soludo's All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA)-led administration.
The 2026 budget presentation is expected to outline ambitious investments in infrastructure, education, and security key priorities for a state grappling with flooding, youth unemployment, and inter-communal clashes.
While the assembly has since resumed operations, awaiting the governor's address, the incident highlights simmering resentments within Nigeria's often fractious state legislatures.
PDP stakeholders have hinted at potential escalation, with calls for Udemezue's reinstatement, while APGA loyalists defend the House's actions as upholding institutional integrity.
The assembly has yet to issue an official statement beyond the procedural enforcement cited by Okoye, as further updates on the budget proceedings and Udemezue's status are anticipated as the day progresses.
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