YPP Guber Candidate Condemns Suspension of Anambra lawmaker, Slams Soludo

The candidate of Young Progressives Party (YPP), in November 8 Governorship Election in Anambra State, Sir Paul Chukwuma, has condemned the suspension of the lawmaker representing Ayamelum constituency in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Bernard Udemezue.

Udemezue was suspended on Tuesday, August 26, 2025 by the state Assembly for three months without salary over alleged unparliamentary conduct.

The house had summoned the lawmaker to appear before its committee on business, rules and ethics over his activities on social media, which the house considered an embrassment to the legislature.

Reacting to in a statement he personally signed, Sir Chukwuma noted that the suspension is only symptomatic to the deeper problem the state has been plunged into by its current chief executive, professor Chukwuma Soludo.

He stated that Anambra State under Soludo has slipped into dictatorship, arguing that the suspension of the Ayamelum lawmaker is an expansion of Soludo’s dictatorship to shut down opposition, criticism, and dissenting voices.

The YPP governorship candidate observed that in a democracy, dictatorship starts with gagging the people and their representatives under certain pretenses and also capturing the judiciary.

According to him, for dancing to the tune of the governor in Udemezue matter, the House has lost its essence.

“At the moment, the House of Assembly has lost the right to freely debate and provide direction to the governor and perform its full functions as an institution and an essential arm of the Anambra State Government, ” he said.

“There are strong indications that Soludo barred the House from consideration of any motion on security. Of course, the level of insecurity in Anambra has since gone beyond alarming. Yet, the House of Assembly has not said anything. It is even so bad that the Assembly could not say anything when it’s member, the late Hon. Justice Azuka, was kidnapped. That sad incident was never mentioned in the plenary. This is also why the House has never raised any motion about the unlawful conduct of Agunechemba and SASA. In actual fact, the legislature in Anambra State has collapsed.”

“Unfortunately, the judiciary is not any better. Under Soludo, the Anambra State Judicial Service Commission has taken industrial action over various credible and labour related demands.

“But in all, they were simply ignored, and their demands are yet to be met. The Anambra State Parliamentary Association was similarly on strike for issues relating to the implementation of the Anambra House of Assembly Service Commission Law but were intimidated and manipulated back to work by the Governor of Anambra State, Professor Charles Soludo.”

“To demonstrate the pitiable dictatorship in Anambra State further, Soludo has his Akaodo and Agunechemba thugs unleashing untold mayhem on Ndi Anambra. So, effectively, he has his own militia that serves his interests. This is why, despite deep and troubling complaints about the modus operandi of these groups, they are still going about enjoying the full confidence of the governor. They are still abusing and killing innocent Ndi Anambra.”

“Soludo’s State Executive Council meetings are a one-way lecture episode with no contribution from his executives. His Commissioners are regarded less than Assistant Clerks.”

“Insecurity in the state is treated with a casual wave of his left hand. Meanwhile, Anambra State, and Ndi Anambra are suffering and dying, for absolutely no reason.”

“Traders, and the business community, lawyers, and lawmakers, no one is safe and free from the chaos that Anambra State is undergoing because Soludo has refused to provide leadership.”

“Therefore, the suspension of Hon. Bernard Udemezue must be construed as Governor Soludo’s expansion of his dictatorship to shut down opposition, criticism, and dissenting voices. This action points to Soludo’s grand plan to intimidate other State House of Assembly members and the voice of reason in Anambra State.”

“If all these are happening in Soludo’s first term, what then will happen in the unlikely event that he gets a second term?

Chukwuma urged the people of Anambra to rise up and align with his burning desire to change the face of governance in the state.

He maintained that the YPP is driven by the desire to restore joy in Anambra State, adding that his administration will fix the state and hand Anambra back to Ndi Anambra.