To serve as a deterrent and a punitive measure, members of the Udenu Legislative Council, Udenu local government area of Enugu state, Thursday, suspended the House Leader, Hon. Nnamdi Odoh.
They also suspended the Chairman of Committee on Works, Hon. Daniel Aroh.
Hon. Odoh was immediately replaced with Hon. Patrick O. Ugwu.
While the former leader was given six months suspension, three months was handed down on Aroh.
A press statement issued by the House indicated that their suspension was necessitated by their unruly behaviour that resulted in the disruption of the House proceeding.
Both of them left the plenary angrily.
“The Udenu Legislative Council, in the exercise of its constitutional and legislative powers, duly convened a plenary session today, Thursday, 13th March 2025, at the Legislative Council Hall to deliberate extensively on the unsettling events that have recently disrupted the smooth operation of legislative activities within the Council, culminating in the impeachment of the immediate past House Leader, Rt. Hon. Dr. Nnamdi Odoh.
“Having meticulously examined the events that escalated into the recent disorderly conduct in the House, and in our bid to uphold decorum, discipline, and legislative integrity, the House has resolved to suspend Rt. Hon. Daniel Aroh, the Honourable Councillor representing Udunedem Ward and Chairman of the House Committee on Works, for a period of three (3) months, during which he shall be stripped of all legislative rights and privileges.
“This disciplinary measure is necessitated by his gross violation of the Rules of the House, including but not limited to deliberately disrupting House proceedings on Tuesday, 11th March 2025, thereby obstructing the Clerk of the House from duly observing a matter of urgent public importance.
“Defying the authority of the House when it was ordered to proceed with the business of the day, resulting in unwarranted disorderliness on the floor of the House and walking out of plenary in flagrant disregard of legislative order while proceedings were still ongoing,” the statement said.
On the part of the impeached former leader, Odoh, he was accused of engaging in conduct unbecoming of a legislator and House Leader by attempting to prevent the Clerk of the House from observing a matter of urgent public importance duly raised during plenary in addition to
abandoning his seat and walking out of the House while plenary was in session, in an act of gross legislative irresponsibility.
Another of Odoh’s crime is that “he convened an unauthorised and unwarranted “World Press Conference” without due consultation with Councilors, thereby stoking unnecessary discord and misleading the public with baseless allegations against the Executive Chairman of Udenu LGA, Aka Eze Aka, among other crimes as well as “engaging in a calculated attempt to malign the leadership of the LGA by propagating unfounded accusations against the Executive Chairman, which this House categorically dismisses as baseless and misleading, as we noted in an official statement earlier released yesterday by the House majority Leader — Rt. Hon. Sunday E. Onah.”
However, following what transpired in the House on Tuesday and the eventual impeachment and suspension of the erring members, the Council assured the people of Udenu of good governance and robust legislative order
“The Udenu Legislative Council assures all constituents of its steadfast commitment to legislative excellence and progressive governance.
“We call upon the esteemed people of Udenu to disregard the misleading narratives being peddled by certain elements whose actions are antithetical to the peace and development of our Local Government.
“We emphasise that this House remains united and focused on enacting policies and resolutions that will advance the collective well-being of our people.
“The recent actions taken are in strict adherence to legislative ethics and were necessitated by the need to uphold discipline, order, and respect for the Rule of Law within the legislative arm of government.
“Finally, we implore all indigenes and residents of Udenu LGA to remain calm, as the House has repositioned itself to offer a more robust, effective, and development-driven legislative impact in partnership with the Executive Arm of Government.
“We remain committed to serving the people of Udenu with integrity, diligence, and an unwavering sense of duty,” the House declared.