The recent suspension of Hon. Bernard Udemezue, member representing Anyamelum LGA, after he made a video of bad roads in the state, has sparked outrage and concern across Anambra State. For many, this development is not just a political manoeuvre—it signals a dangerous descent into authoritarian rule under Governor Charles Soludo.

 Udemezue, representing Ayamelum Constituency at the state assembly, was slammed with a three-month suspension for alleged anti-parliamentary conduct

The suspension, according to the state Assembly, will last for three months after tendering an apology to the Speaker, Hon Somtochukwu Udeze and the Assembly

In any democracy, dictatorship often begins with the silencing of dissenting voices. Once the people and their representatives are gagged, the next casualty is the judiciary. Sadly, this pattern appears to be unfolding in Anambra.

Legislature Under Siege

Today, the Anambra State House of Assembly can no longer freely debate, scrutinise, or hold the executive accountable. Reports suggest that Governor Soludo has barred the Assembly from discussing motions relating to security, even as insecurity in the state reaches alarming levels. Shockingly, the House remained silent when one of its own, the late Hon. Justice Azuka, was kidnapped. That incident was never raised in plenary. Likewise, the Assembly has failed to address the alleged unlawful conduct of groups like Agunechemba and SASA.

Effectively, the legislature in Anambra has collapsed.

Judiciary on Shaky Ground

The judiciary fares no better. The Anambra State Judicial Service Commission has embarked on industrial action over legitimate welfare demands, yet these concerns remain ignored. Similarly, when the Anambra State Parliamentary Association pushed for the implementation of the House of Assembly Service Commission Law, they were reportedly intimidated back to work rather than heard.

This erosion of institutional independence is deeply worrying.

Rise of Political Militias

Compounding the crisis is the existence of groups such as Akaodo and Agunechemba, widely accused of terrorising citizens with the tacit approval of the state. Despite repeated complaints from Ndi Anambra, these groups continue to operate with impunity—leaving many to conclude they function as the governor’s private militia.

A Government of One Voice

Inside Soludo’s government, executive council meetings are reportedly reduced to lectures, with no meaningful contributions from commissioners—who are treated as little more than clerks. Insecurity is brushed aside with casual indifference, even as lives and livelihoods are lost daily. From traders to lawyers, lawmakers to ordinary citizens, no one feels safe.

The Bigger Picture

The suspension of Hon. Udemezue must therefore be seen not in isolation, but as part of a broader strategy: a clampdown on opposition, criticism, and dissent. It sends a chilling message to other lawmakers—fall in line, or face the same fate.

If these are the realities of Soludo’s first term, Ndi Anambra must ask: what awaits the state in a possible second term?

Time to Speak Up

Anambra is at a crossroads. The steady slide into dictatorship cannot be ignored. The people of Anambra must rise, speak out, and defend their democracy before it is silenced completely.