A new performance assessment unveiled by the Erudite Growth and Advancement Foundation (ERGAF-AFRICA) has sparked conversations about legislative productivity, representation and the role of South East senators in the 10th National Assembly.

The report, The 1st Session of the 10th National Assembly Deliberative Barometer & Policy Focus Productivity Report, covers the legislative year from June 14, 2023, to June 11, 2024 and offers detailed insight into senators’ individual and regional performances based on issue-based motions, debates, bills, petitions, and points of order.

According to the findings, a total of 1,398 substantive contributions were recorded in the Senate during the review period.

Of these, senators from the South East geopolitical zone accounted for 184 contributions, representing 13.16% of the national total.

State-by-State Breakdown (South East):

• Anambra: 50 contributions
• Imo: 49
• Abia: 43
• Enugu: 23
• Ebonyi: 19

In Enugu State, Senator Osita Ngwu led the trio with 16 contributions. Senator Okechukwu Ezea made 6 contributions while Kelvin Chukwu made 1 contribution, a combined figure that placed Enugu behind other South East states in overall participation.

For comparison, Senate Leader Michael Opeyemi Bamidele (APC – Ekiti Central) topped the national chart with 92 contributions, followed closely by Deputy Senate President Barau Jubrin with 75, emphasizing the influence of holding principal offices in the Senate’s legislative output.

The report raises critical questions for constituents, especially as Nigerians begin to evaluate the performance of their elected officials ahead of future elections.

DAILY GAZETTE reports that voters particularly in the South East may find this data useful in assessing the strength of their political representation and holding lawmakers accountable.

The Benue State House of Assembly has suspended four of its members for six months over an alleged attempt to unseat the Speaker, Aondona Dajoh.

Those affected include Alfred Berger (Makurdi North), Terna Shimawua (Kian Constituency), Cyril Ekong (Obi Constituency), and James Umoru (Apa Constituency).

The suspensions were announced during Thursday’s plenary session, following what was described as a covert move the night before to impeach the Speaker.

The decision came after Majority Leader Saater Tiseer raised a motion of urgent public importance, accusing the lawmakers of trying to spark an unnecessary crisis within the assembly.

Acting swiftly, Speaker Dajoh directed the Sergeant-at-Arms to escort the suspended members out of the chambers.

In a follow-up move, he named Audu Elias as the new House spokesperson, replacing Berger who previously held the role.

This development adds to growing tensions in the House, coming just a day after the lawmakers controversially rejected a nominee for commissioner.

Hon. Udemezue,

The Anambra State House of Assembly is considering suspending Hon. Abuchi Bernard Udemezue, who represents Ayamelum Constituency, for publicly revealing his constituency allowance and exposing alleged corruption within the House.

Udemezue, in a Facebook live video, not only disclosed details of the allowances lawmakers receive but also made startling allegations about the suspicious death of former lawmaker, Justice Azuka, who represented Onitsha North 1.

According to posts shared by facebook user, APGA Initiative Forum (AIF Media), Udemezue alleged that Azuka was lured to Awka under the pretense of receiving Christmas rice on December 24, 2024, just days after a failed impeachment plot against the Speaker and Governor. Azuka never returned alive.

Azuka, a Labour Party lawmaker who reclaimed his seat through a court judgment, was kidnapped at gunpoint in Onitsha.

His decomposing body was discovered in February near the Second Niger Bridge.

These revelations, along with Udemezue’s transparency about constituency funds, sparked outrage among his colleagues.

During plenary, Hon. Tony Muobike (Aguata II) moved a motion accusing Udemezue of tarnishing the image of the Assembly and endangering its members.

“He’s Been On Social Media Making Damaging And Threatening Comments. If Not Addressed, This Could Have Serious Consequences,” Muobike Warned.

Following the motion, the Assembly issued an invitation to Udemezue to appear before the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges on August 21.

The invitation was signed by the committee chairman, Hon. Ikenna Ofodeme.

Although the outcome of the meeting is still unknown, DAILY GAZETTE gathered that plans are underway to suspend Udemezue.

The proposed suspension has triggered backlash from civil rights activists and the public.

Many view it as an attempt to silence a whistleblower who simply upheld democratic transparency.

MonitNG, a civic accountability group, condemned the Assembly’s actions:

“Rather than celebrate this rare act of openness, the Assembly has chosen intimidation. Constituency allowances are public funds. Citizens deserve to know how they are spent.”

The group called on Governor Charles Soludo to intervene and ensure the lawmaker is not punished for promoting accountability.

“Suspending Hon. Abuchi sends a dangerous message: that transparency is a crime and secrecy is rewarded. This moment is a test of Governor Soludo’s commitment to good governance.”

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has dismissed an attempt by the Kogi State Government to block the payment of over ₦1 billion in outstanding salaries and entitlements to the state’s former Deputy Governor, Elder Simon Achuba, who was unlawfully impeached in 2019.

A three-member panel of justices; Hamma Barka, Okon Abang and Oyejoju Oyewumi unanimously ruled against the state government’s request to escalate the matter to the Supreme Court.

In the lead judgment, Justice Okon Abang emphasized that the Court of Appeal is the final arbiter in civil cases emanating from the National Industrial Court, citing Section 243(4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

Justice Abang stated unequivocally that Kogi State lacked any legal basis to take the case further and described the government’s move as frivolous, baseless, irritating and unwarranted.

He criticized the legal action led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Adebayo Adedeji, stating that a lawyer of his standing should have advised his client more responsibly.

As a consequence, the court imposed a ₦3 million fine on Mr. Adedeji, ordering him to pay the sum to Achuba.

“I expected the learned senior counsel to the applicants, notwithstanding the juicy nature of the brief, to have taken advantage of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners and advised them accordingly,” Abang said.

“Compliance with the Constitution should not be seen as cowardice but as maturity and restraint.”

Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo and the Attorney-General had approached the Appeal Court through their counsel, asking it to halt execution of the earlier judgment which awarded Achuba more than ₦1 billion in unpaid earnings.

They argued that no payment should be made until the Supreme Court had ruled on the matter.

However, Justice Abang rejected this request, saying “The decision of this court is final. When the law says the decision of this court is final, there is nothing the applicants can do. It is as clear as daylight.”

Achuba had earlier secured a favorable ruling from the National Industrial Court (NICN) on November 4, 2020, which directed the Kogi State Government to pay him his unpaid salaries, travel allowances and other entitlements, though excluding security votes.

The Industrial Court found merit in his claims after his impeachment in 2019.

Dissatisfied, the Kogi government challenged the judgment, but the Court of Appeal on April 29, 2024, affirmed Achuba’s legal right to be paid for the years 2017 and 2018.

Despite that ruling, the state government filed a new motion seeking to stop the enforcement and pursue the case further to the Supreme Court, a request the Court of Appeal has now firmly rejected.

Justice Abang cautioned the state government against “executive lawlessness”, reinforcing that the judicial process must be respected and that the appellate court’s ruling is final and binding.

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has firmly stated that he will not stoop to political mudslinging, amid rising tensions within his party.

Speaking to journalists after the South-West zoning consultative summit of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos on Thursday, Makinde asserted that personal attacks have no place in democratic discourse.

“When people sink into the gutter, I don’t follow them,” said Makinde.

“I can disagree without making it personal. This is a democracy, we will reach out to them.”

He highlighted that despite recent electoral challenges, the PDP remains competitive. Notably, the party placed second in most of the 12 states across the region.

“This is proof that PDP is far from dead. If we keep working hard, we can regain Nigerians’ trust,” Makinde added.

Addressing speculation over zoning the PDP presidential ticket to the South, Makinde emphasized that such discussions can only follow party rebranding and unity.

“We haven’t even started talking about zoning. First, we must build a credible party. Otherwise, everything else will collapse.”

The summit attracted key PDP figures, including Adolphus Wabara (Chairman, Board of Trustees), Governor Douye Diri (Chairman, National Zoning Committee), Governors Ademola Adeleke (Osun State) and Peter Mba (Enugu State, represented by Deputy Governor Ifeanyi Ossai), along with former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Bode George, Monsurat Sunmonu, and 12 National Assembly members from Southern Nigeria.