Drama erupted in the Anambra State House of Assembly on Tuesday as lawmakers voted to suspend Hon. Bernard Udemezue, member representing Ayamelum Constituency, for three months without pay over a controversial social media post that exposed lawmakers’ constituency allowances.
Udemezue, in a WhatsApp group chat largely populated by his constituents, disclosed that each lawmaker receives ₦10 million quarterly from the state government to fund constituency projects. He also revealed details of his personal emoluments as a legislator, insisting that he made the disclosure in the spirit of accountability and transparency.
The revelation, however, sparked outrage among his colleagues, who considered the act “unparliamentary.” A report by the House Committee on Rules, Business, Ethics and Privileges, chaired by Majority Leader Sir Ikenna Ofodeme, recommended Udemezue’s suspension, barring him from entering the Assembly premises for the next three months.
The committee further described his actions as a violation of legislative ethics, accusing him of bringing the image of the Assembly into disrepute. The suspension means Udemezue will forfeit all salaries and benefits within the period.
Reacting after plenary, the embattled lawmaker stood his ground, insisting that he was being punished for telling the truth. “My only offence was revealing that lawmakers receive ₦10 million quarterly for constituency projects. Some pocket theirs, and that is why they are angry,” Udemezue said. He argued that his disclosure was meant to keep his constituents informed on how their funds were allocated.
The suspension has already triggered heated debates in Anambra, with many citizens hailing Udemezue for lifting the lid on what they see as a “culture of secrecy” within the legislature. Civil society groups have also begun demanding explanations from other lawmakers on how their constituency funds are being utilized.
For now, Udemezue’s political career hangs in the balance, as his supporters frame him as a whistleblower standing against entrenched interests, while his critics in the Assembly accuse him of undermining institutional discipline. The controversy has set the stage for a showdown that could reshape public perception of the Anambra legislature.
