By Newspot Nigeria News Desk
Umuahia— The Foundation for Environmental Rights Advocacy and Development (FENRAD) Nigeria has strongly criticized the Abia State House of Assembly over what it describes as an “unprecedented legislative abdication,” following reports that members of the Assembly travelled abroad after initially resolving to proceed to Abuja in solidarity for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Comrade Nelson Nnanna Nwafor, FENRAD expressed grave concern that lawmakers allegedly vacated their seats during an active legislative period without issuing a formal notice to their constituents.
The group described the move as a “serious breach of parliamentary ethics and dereliction of duty”, emphasizing that no formal resolution was passed to announce a recess or suspend the protest earlier agreed upon in plenary.
According to FENRAD, the reported trip abroad, coupled with the absence of any formal handover or procedural communication, undermines democratic accountability and the rule of law. “Democracy thrives on transparency, deliberation, and continuous engagement with the electorate,” the organization stated, warning that the actions of the Assembly represent “a growing culture of legislative impunity and detachment from the people.”
FENRAD called for:
- Immediate clarification from the leadership of the Abia State House of Assembly regarding the status of the earlier resolved protest and reasons for its apparent abandonment.
- A formal statement from the Speaker and the Clerk of the House confirming whether the Assembly is on recess, and under what constitutional provision.
- A full investigation into the use of public funds for the lawmakers’ unexplained overseas travel.
- A renewed commitment by the Abia State legislature to uphold transparency, integrity, and democratic accountability.
The group further urged all public officeholders to remember that “public office is a public trust”, insisting that legislators must serve the people’s interest at all times.
“Legislative vacuüm is not only unparliamentary; it is also undemocratic,” the statement concluded.
Newspot Nigeria reports that the development has sparked widespread calls within civil society for better oversight of legislative conduct in Abia State.
Full Press Statement Below:
Press Statement
Umuahia/Abia State
18 October 2025
Rights Group Condemns Legislative Abdication by Abia State House of Assembly; Demands Transparency and Accountability
The Foundation for Environmental Rights Advocacy and Development (FENRAD) Nigeria, a civil society Advocacy Organization, expresses grave concern over the recent actions of the Honourable Members of the Abia State House of Assembly, who, after publicly declaring their intention to proceed to Abuja in solidarity for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, have reportedly travelled abroad under unclear and unexplained circumstances.
It is both troubling and unprecedented that a full complement of a sub-national legislature would vacate its seat of authority and relocate outside the country during an active legislative period without any formal communication to the people of Abia State. There is no record of a House resolution announcing a recess, nor any public notice informing constituents of a suspension of the protest earlier resolved in plenary.
The Foundation views this as a serious breach of parliamentary ethics and a dereliction of duty by elected officials who owe their constituents both accountability and service. The perceived abandonment of legislative responsibilities and abrupt international travel by several lawmakers — as evidenced by reports of large travel suitcases and the absence of a formal handover or recess process — undermines the sanctity of democratic governance and the rule of law in the state.
Democracy thrives on transparency, deliberation, and continuous engagement with the electorate. The actions of the Assembly, as currently understood, violate these principles and reflect a growing culture of legislative impunity and detachment from the people.
FENRAD Nigeria demands the following:
- Immediate Clarification from the leadership of the Abia State House of Assembly on the status of the protest earlier resolved during plenary, including reasons for its apparent cancellation or abandonment.
- A Formal Statement from the Speaker and the Clerk of the House on whether the Assembly is currently in recess, and if so, under what constitutional or procedural provisions.
- An Investigation by the relevant oversight bodies, including the Abia State Civil Society community and appropriate federal institutions, into the use of public funds for this unexplained overseas trip.
- A Renewed Commitment by the Abia legislature to uphold democratic accountability, legislative integrity, and transparency in all its dealings with the people of the state.
Finally, FENRAD calls on all elected officials to remember that public office is a public trust. Legislators must, at all times, be seen to serve the interest of the people who elected them — not abandon their duties for unexplained overseas engagements.
Legislative Vacuüm is not only unparliamentary, it is also undemocratic.
Signed,
Comrade Nelson Nnanna Nwafor
Executive Director
Foundation for Environmental Rights Advocacy & Development (FENRAD) Nigeria
Tel: 08033383708, 07062949232
Email: [email protected] / [email protected]
— Newspot Nigeria
